Yula Kim

I am a London-based Contemporary Artist and Art Tutor with experience teaching students across different age groups and levels, from beginners and hobby learners to GCSE, A-Level, IB and university applicants. I hold Master’s degrees from the Royal College of Art and UCL, and my teaching experience includes work within leading UK cultural and educational institutions, including the Natural History Museum.

My lessons are tailored to each student’s individual goals, interests and level of experience. I teach a wide range of practical art skills, including pencil and pen drawing, observational drawing, watercolour, acrylic painting and oil painting. I can support students who want to build strong traditional foundations as well as those who are interested in developing a more personal and contemporary artistic approach from expression paintings to contemporary manga and cartoons.

A key part of my teaching is helping students understand composition, proportion, colour, visual balance and the arrangement of objects within an image. I have particular experience with still-life and object-based painting, and I can guide students through the process of observing forms carefully, translating three-dimensional objects onto a two-dimensional surface, and developing compositions that feel intentional and visually engaging.

Alongside technical skills, I also encourage students to experiment with more contemporary ways of making art. This may include working more freely with colour, texture, layering, mixed media, abstraction, or developing imagery from personal interests and experiences. I believe it is important for students not only to learn how to draw or paint accurately, but also to begin understanding how they can develop their own visual language and artistic identity.

I also offer portfolio preparation and portfolio design support for students applying to Foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate art and design courses, as well as students preparing school coursework. I can help with selecting and sequencing work, improving presentation, developing project ideas, strengthening sketchbooks, organising research and experimentation, and identifying areas where a portfolio could become more coherent and distinctive.

For students who are preparing for university applications, I can also support Personal Statements and written application materials, helping them explain their interests, influences, creative process and motivation clearly and confidently.

My teaching approach is supportive and flexible. Some students may want structured technical exercises, while others may need guidance developing an independent project or preparing an application. I adapt the lessons accordingly, while encouraging students to become more confident in making their own artistic decisions.

Whether you are preparing for an exam, developing a university portfolio, returning to art as a personal hobby, or simply wanting to improve your drawing and painting skills, I aim to create lessons that are both practical and enjoyable, while helping each student build confidence and develop their own creative direction.