What Is Neon Life Drawing? I took the class to find out | By Phoebe Griffiths

Neon Naked Life Drawing Featuring Lavender at the Three Colts in Bethnal Green.

This interview was created to celebrate our win of the ClassBento Trendsetter Award 2024!

I had a rough idea of what to expect from a class called Neon Life Drawing – a life drawing class, with a bold, colourful twist. But the word “neon” sparked my curiosity.

What did I find? A technicolour celebration of creativity, expression, and not taking yourself too seriously. 

As ClassBento’s Content Manager, I get to peek behind the curtain of all sorts of creative classes – but this one genuinely surprised me. So, I went along to try it for myself and even sat down with its founder (nay–inventor!) Jylle, to find out where this wild idea came from and tell you whether or not you should give it a go. 

So what actually is neon life drawing?

Let’s start with the basics. Neon life drawing is a UV-lit art class where you sketch a nude model who’s been hand-painted head-to-toe in fluorescent body paint. The room glows, the materials glow, the models definitely glow — and even your practise-scribbles somehow end up looking cool under the lights.

“It’s about creating a space where people can be expressive and have fun,” Jylle told me. “I’ve always wanted it to be less about ‘drawing well’ and more about experimenting.” and that is definitely what I experienced. 

Jylle is the founder of Neon Naked, and she’s been running classes for over seven years – painting models, making the props, organising everything herself. Her background is in fashion and knitwear but when she wanted to move towards something more community-based and interactive, Neon Naked was born.

Where did it all begin?

“I was knitting every day, sending my work off to festivals and photo shoots, and I just thought – I need to go outside,” she laughed. 

Neon Naked started in her friend’s café in Dalston, with a few painted models, a couple of UV lights, and an idea that felt half brilliant, half bonkers. But it worked. And it grew. Over the years, she’s brought it to galleries, pop-ups, and parties, refining the format and building a following. 

For Jylle, winning ClassBento’s Trendsetter Award was a bit of a shock.

“I’ve never won anything before,” she said. “I think it's because it's such a unique thing, there's no categories for me to win awards with – I just feel very thankful for it and to be noticed, to have that, I don't know how to say it. It's just really good”

She didn’t just come up with a new class – she invented a whole new genre. And what’s even more exciting is that the success of Neon Naked Life Drawing is paving the way for others to try their hand at neon art, with different twists and variations on the life drawing format.

“It was a way to bring together everything I loved – performance, fashion, art, colour – but in a way that involved people. It wasn’t just about watching. It was about joining in.”

What makes it different? (hint: it’s not just the glow)

Aside from the UV lights and dazzling paint, what really sets this class apart is its structure. Rather than one long pose, Jylle breaks the class into a series of short, playful drawing rounds — like creative mini-games. Each one lasts around ten minutes or so, just long enough to push you out of your comfort zone without making you panic.

“We do exercises where you can’t look at your page, or you can only use dots, or draw with your non-dominant hand,” she explained. “It’s about loosening up. People don’t realise how creative they are until you shake things up.”

Every round is guided by a different prompt – sometimes abstract, sometimes emotional. One round we were told to draw “the movement, not the shape”. It was this prompt that helped me really tune into the fact that I was here to have fun, be carefree and create – not perfect my art! 

By the end, I had created at least six glowing, wild masterpieces – and honestly, I couldn’t have cared less about how "good" they were. It was at that moment I realised I’d truly immersed myself in the experience. From Jylle’s carefully curated playlist setting the perfect neon mood to sipping on a tasty tipple from the bar, everything came together seamlessly, blending the vibrant atmosphere with a sense of carefree creativity that went beyond just the art itself.

The science behind the sparkle

I was fascinated to learn that underneath all the colour and fun, there’s proper science at work too. Jylle actually studied the effects of light on creativity during her Master’s degree and uses that knowledge to shape how the class feels.

“Short wavelength light — like blue and UV — has this weird effect on people,” she explained. “It relaxes them, makes them feel open and calm. There’s even a study where installing blue lights in a Japanese train station reduced suicide rates by 80%.” (Psychology Today, 2025) 

Everyone in the class did seem noticeably chilled out, chatting freely, laughing at their drawings, and trying things they might normally shy away from. It felt more like a creative playground than an art class.

It’s welcoming, wild and kind of wonderful

Whether you’re going solo or with a group of mates, this class is made for all kinds of people.

“Weeknights are quieter and more chilled,” said Jylle. “Weekends are full of energy– loads of hens, birthdays, people just up for something a bit different.”

She’s had everyone from shy first-timers to professional illustrators take part and everyone walks away with a bunch of bright, bizarre sketches and a big smile.

Why you really should try it

If you’ve ever felt like you “can’t draw” or just want to try something a bit left of centre – this is your sign. Neon Naked isn’t about being good at art. It’s about getting stuck in, making a bit of a mess, and remembering that creativity should be fun.

Ready to light up your creativity?

With classes across London–Hackney, Peckham, Hampstead Heath, Angel and more–whichever borough you call home, there’s a class near you. 

Whether you’re a total beginner, a hen party planner, or an artist looking to shake things up, Neon Naked Life Drawing offers a one-of-a-kind way to experience figure drawing. It's bold, it’s inclusive, and it’s downright fun.

As Jylle puts it: “Just keep going. Keep showing up. That’s how you build something special.”