One of Tony Swann’s artworks

• YOUR article about the cancellation of the life drawing class covered many issues, (Life drawing models told to cover up, February 6).

I want to highlight another: respect for the privacy of the models, common to life drawing classes in general.

No one not enrolled in these classes is allowed to see the models unclothed.

At Hampstead Community Centre the large room has some small windows but, setting up the room for the class, windows were blocked by thick cardboard cut to the size of the frames and placed there during the class.

A large, high, blue screen was placed just inside the door so that if anyone opened the door by mistake, child or adult, their view of the model was blocked. They would be told they could not enter.

These precautions were there to protect the models and to prevent anyone’s delicate sensibilities from being offended by even a glimpse of a naked body.

So the decision of the new committee running the centre was both hurtful and entirely misguided.

The class has students and artists attending as well as retired people, all on a weekly basis depending on their schedules, paying a weekly fee. It is a mixed ability group where the least experienced can learn from accomplished artists, like Tony Swann, who convenes the group.

So although there were 22 students at the final class at the centre, there are probably as many more who will be expecting a class to be running and will be showing up expecting a class for months to come.

They will need to be directed to The Quakers Meeting House on Heath Street, up from Hampstead station on the Northern line.

VIRGINIA HJELMAA, NW6