Fine Art Painting BA(Hons)

Why study with us?

• Our Fine Art Painting degree is one of the few courses in the UK that offers specialist study in the subject.

• Our inspiring and specialist course questions and redefines painting's role in a changing society.

• You will work daily in your own studio space at the university, receiving regular contact with expert staff through individual tutorials, lectures, seminars and workshops.

• Your learning is underpinned by your growing critical understanding of contemporary fine art practice. We encourage you to explore all aspects of painting, discovering how different media and processes impact on the ideas and content of your work.

• Visits to galleries and intern or volunteer work will enhance your understanding of professional practice.

• You will have many opportunities to exhibit your work at self-initiated exhibitions at the University and in local spaces, culminating in the Graduate Show in your final year.

• Your lecturers are established professional painters, guaranteeing that you receive guidance from tutors with specific, up-to-date knowledge of the medium. Likewise, technical provision, methods, materials and skills acquisition are all focused on painting and its unique requirements.

• We have strong links with local arts communities and there are opportunities to be involved with these. 

• We also have international links with the University of Nagoya, Japan which runs an exchange programme available by competitive application.

• Two Fine Art Painting graduates per year have completed six-week residencies in Chongquing China, organised through the university. 

Hear from 2017 graduate Cameron Duke discuss his experience of the Fine Art Painting BA(Hons)

Year 1

First year tuition develops your ability to produce self-directed work. Studio practice units emphasise experimentation and risk-taking within a critical but supportive environment; workshops cover all technical essentials of painting; you'll explore the contexts of art; and seminars introduce you to professional development. 

Modules

• Studio Practice 1: Introducing Studio Practice

  This module introduces you to the main elements of artists’ studio practice, with emphasis on investigation, experimentation and risk-taking, as important aspects of generating of new work. In this module, you will explore painting and the different roles of drawing, together with studies in a variety of media, as a means to process and develop source material, record information and generate ideas. You will develop your understanding of artistic practice and ability to lead your learning and research.

• Studio Practice 2: Developing an Independent Practice

  In this module you will explore the themes and ideas you initiated in semester 1, adding to this growing body of work with new subject matter and content. You will be helped to take increasing control of the direction of your own artistic research. The emphasis continues to be on investigation, experimentation and risk-taking. In addition, you will be encouraged to begin to articulate the art, historical and cultural context in which your work sits. 

• Methods and Materials

  This module introduces you to materials, processes and technical skills and will support you to develop your confidence with independent research, time management and planning. You will learn how to make a stretcher and prepare a variety of supports and grounds. Through workshops and demonstrations, you will be introduced to a wide range of oil and water based media and learn about presenting and hanging work.

  You will be briefed on good health and safety practice within the workshops and studios.

• Introduction to Theories and Practices of Fine Art

  This module introduces you to a range of approaches used to think about the relationship between fine art practice and the social and cultural contexts in which art has emerged at various periods. Attention is paid to how artworks and art practices embody changing ideas, meanings, values and effects.

  The module includes students from all fine art areas, to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue. The module explores historical contextualisation appropriate for studio practice, supporting the development of library-based research and academic skills.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Year 2

In your second year you continue to produce self-directed work, but there is greater emphasis on its relationship to the worlds of cultural and political debate. The interim show teaches you about the key issues of exhibiting publicly, and the option module allows you to explore topics outside your usual learning range.

You may apply for overseas study placements in Japan and Korea.

Modules

• Studio Practice 3: Studio Practice: Investigation, Experimentation and Public Exhibition Practice
• Studio Practice 4: Articulating Your Development: Professional Practice and Research Material
• Theories and Practices of Fine Art: Contexts and Specialism in a Post-digital World

• Option module*

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Artwork by Sooeon Jeong, 2017 graduate

Final year

In your final year you produce a body of work to professional standard, exhibiting it in the acclaimed, annual graduate shows; write a research essay to define and contextualise your practice; and receive professional development lectures on subjects ranging from self-employment to project management, networks and planning strategies.

Assessment for studio units is based on artwork and writings; historical and critical work is assessed through written work and presentations. You’ll receive written feedback on your progress. At these points you complete your own self-assessment matching the form used by your tutors. These encourage you to reflect on your development. 

Modules

• Studio Practice 5: Reflection and Experimentation in Studio Practice
• Theories and Practice of Fine Art: Articulation of Your Critical Position
• Studio Practice 6: Studio practice and final exhibition

Facilities

A vital resource in all fine art disciplines at Brighton is the studio.

• Each student is given their own workspace.

• Many tools and equipment needed are provided and the workshop contains a wide range of power tools for woodworking while essential hand tools can be borrowed.

• Cameras and digital equipment can be borrowed from the photography unit and media centre.

• You must provide your own painting materials (paints, paper, canvas and wood supports) and basic equipment such as brushes, hammer, staple gun, drawing board, Stanley knife, etc. As a student you are entitled to educational discounts on computers and software.

• In terms of regular expenditure your costs will depend on the scale and requirements of your work. Staff will advise you on where to get cheap materials and equipment. Some materials are provided at cost price (canvas and some paints) while a certain amount of painting media and glazes / varnishes are provided free.

• Expert technicians provide support for students as well as inductions into equipment and technologies.

• You are entitled to use any of the university but St Peters Library serves our arts and humanities courses.

• The Media Centre offers short-term loan of video and audio equipment for presentation and production, alongside video and audio editing and animation facilities. There is an on-site supplies shop.

• The Photographic Services Unit has a well-equipped dark room, a studio and camera loan facilities.

• All students are encouraged to use the Media Centre, which provides computer rooms (mainly Apple Mac hardware, but some PCs are also available) and training rooms. The computers have a good range of contemporary software providing you with access to digital image processing and manipulation, graphic layout and typography, animation, film and sound production and editing.

Staff profile

Chris's work spans painting, drawing, photography, animation and video, and has won numerous national awards. Since graduating from Brighton in 1981 his work has been exhibited widely both in the UK and abroad, winning prizes in numerous national art exhibitions. In 1993 he was shortlisted for the post of official war artist in the Bosnian conflict by the Imperial War Museum. Throughout his career as an artist he has remained committed to realist painting as an ongoing and vital artistic practice. His work is represented in London by Mummery+Schnelle.

Find out about the rest of the Fine Art Painting staff: Alex Pollard, Nadine Feinson, Oliver Gosling, Tony Benn, Tom Hammick, Joseph Mark Wright and Robert Hersey.

'Washed Up’ by Chris Stevens, Oil on canvas 137 x 183cm

Student views 

International requirements

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Portfolio and interview advice 

Applying for a place in 2019?

Online portfolio advice
When you apply, you will be asked for an online portfolio of 15–20 images. We are looking for evidence of ideas in any format (paintings, drawings, sketchbooks), backed up by a broad range of skills showing how you generate and develop ideas, and that you are passionate and inquisitive about the subject.

Interview advice
You will be asked to present your portfolio of actual work in an individual interview. During the interview, we hope to gain an impression of you as an individual, your artistic interests and your personal and professional aspirations. The interview will normally be between yourself, one member of staff and one current student. Interviews last around 20 minutes. The interview is also a chance for you to ask us more about the course, so please think carefully about what you might want to know and give yourself enough time in your visit to look around the studios and talk to our students.

What are we looking for in applicants? What should I include in my portfolio?
We are looking for independent, highly motivated and creative students. As with your online submission we search for evidence of exploration and risk-taking, via preparatory drawings and studies as well as finished pieces. Your folio should be centred on work that you are actively interested in as an artist, and we hope you will be able to tell us more about these interests when we meet. Show us you are self-motivated and have a clear enthusiasm for Fine Art Painting; we are not just looking for evidence of talent, but also of hard work. We want to know that you are able to critically reflect on your development, have independent thought, and a growing understanding of issues related to your ideas. We are also looking for applicants with a strong leaning towards painting, but supporting work in other media can show us that you have an open attitude to learning. Evidence of painting and drawing skills are important.

Course fees

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

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