A few weeks ago I took part in a live drawing session at Sadler’s Wells while the English National Ballet took their daily company class. It’s distinguished as ‘live’ rather than ‘life’ drawing because the dancers are not modelling, or there to be drawn, it is a dynamic, fast-paced class to warm them up for the evening’s performance.

The dancers started by stretching out on the barre, running through their rudiments and finally leaping and pirouetting across the stage. I wasn’t drawing by the end of the class because it was just such a privilege to watch.

My resulting sketches are mostly quick captures of movements, taking between one and ten seconds and without looking at the page.