Program Overview

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As you progress through the course you'll develop both your technical and creative skills through a range of material exploration and use of media. You'll have access to your own studio space and will work with the academic staff in defining and developing your interests and practices in numerous capacities, including:

Critical thinking / critical judgement (Immersion in both the historical and contemporary art practice / thinking)

Process & Material Based Learning: (painting, video, animation, printmaking, photography, drawing, performance, plaster, robotics, public art, participatory and inclusive practices, woodwork, metal work, ceramics, product design, bronze casting, sewing)

Individual Responsibility / Self Motivation

Independence / Confidence / Imagination/ Play

Enquiry driven speculative practice

There are frequent opportunities to interact with practitioners and external partners. You can choose to learn how professional practices operate through industry placements. Explore what entrepreneurship has to offer the contemporary artist. Or study abroad – taking inspiration from different cultures and people.

Your final year is spent producing work for exhibition. You'll also complete a business plan, dissertation, or critical review – it's your choice, depending on where you want to take your artistic career next.

Year One

Subject: introduction to concept, process & practice - 40 credits

Subject: introduction to independent studio practice - 20 credits

Dive in with material practice projects, designed to get you thinking about your individual studio practice. With support from your tutors, you'll start to build your critical thinking – and become familiar with the variety of processes you have to work with. Drawing is the primary means of gaining an understanding of your relationship to the world and is central to the study of fine art. By joining the directed drawing programme, you will develop ideas, communicate complex ideas and solve conceptual problems.

Field one: collaborate - 20 credits

Widen your horizons by joining students from other courses to collaborate on a project. You'll take inspiration from other disciplines to build on your experience and expand your creativity – and use your skills and artistic insight to apply them to your work.

Constellation: concept - 40 credits

This module introduces you to the wider world of ideas, theory and contextual studies to help you develop your academic research skills and critical thinking. You'll focus on particular areas of interest in study groups and you'll become familiar with the exciting trans-disciplinary research and expertise in Cardiff School of Art & Design.

Year Two

Subject – practice based research - 40 credits

You will begin to explore your nascent artistic position through an in-depth study of key artworks within the cannon of fine art that you have a personal affinity with from a museum, gallery or private collection, with this as the focus of your research and the catalyst that will help you develop your practice and position. Alongside tutorials, lectures and group critiques, you'll spend time in the studio – as well as visiting galleries, museums and other national centres of excellence.

Field two: explore -

40 credits

You'll expand your experiences with challenging projects designed to encourage you to explore and experiment outside your immediate discipline. This transformative opportunity leads to new thinking and innovation – and opens up all kinds of future possibilities. You'll take on exciting projects that challenge you in new ways. You can also choose to travel, take a work placement, start your own business or try something new.

Constellation: critique - 40 credits

By critiquing literature, journals and exhibitions, you'll hone your ability to put your design practice into context. You'll also have opportunities to interact with students and staff and delve deeper into your areas of interest.

Year Three

Subject – consolidation - 40 credits

In your final year you'll reach a professional standard and define the parameters of your own practice. You'll refine practical and theoretical skills and use them to create original pieces that really make an impact. You'll put your work into context and explore its potential through open critiques and seminars with your tutors and fellow artists.

Field three: exposure - 40 credits

Your final term is dedicated to a major project and an exhibition of your work. This is where you draw together everything you've learned during the course and is the launch pad to your future career.

Constellation: contribution - 40 credits

Your practice is underpinned by your knowledge. Demonstrate your research and analysis skills in your final constellation submission, where you'll explore ideas in both written and practical forms.