The Course
This course has studio communities and facilities for painting, sculpture, and performance and digital practices. Led by an experienced team of practising artists you will learn how to explore, navigate, and define your own specialism.
You are encouraged to pursue your individual interests through tutorials, seminars, workshops, and group critiques; while engaging in wider social, political, cultural, environmental, economic, technological contexts and contemporary issues.
Located in our purpose-built studios and aligned to painting, sculpture, or performance and digital, you will develop a strong artist identity shaped by your specialism and any interdisciplinary approaches you take. Access to workshops and facilities, specialist staff, mixed discipline and cross year critiques, and opportunities to collaborate ensure that you can challenge the boundaries of your practice.
Throughout the course there is an emphasis on technical skill and critical thought that synthesises thinking and making. You will acquire a range of creative and technical strategies to support the development and sustainability of your creative practice. Through exhibition proposals, projects, and collaborations you will develop the essential skills and experience you need as a practicing artist, expand your networks, and make lifelong contacts.
We have several cultural institutions on our doorstep and make regular visits to galleries and exhibitions which have included Leeds Art Gallery, the Henry Moore Institute, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and The Hepworth. National and international trips have included events such as the Venice Biennale. We also have a programme of industry speakers who engage in a range of arts practices and roles within arts organisations.
The Structure
Your first year focuses on community building, making, and experimentation. Through a range of introductory workshops, seminars, and critiques you will explore materials and processes alongside developing your critical thinking.
Course Facilities
BA (Hons) Fine Art students are based in our purpose-built studios in communities aligned to painting, sculpture, or performance and digital and are given their own dedicated space in which to work.
Students will have access to a wide range of resources with a drop-in facility so work can be undertaken, provided resource inductions have been completed. For Fine Art students this will include 3D resources housed in dedicated workshops providing students with a hands-on experience over five main areas; wood, metal, laser-cutting and plastics, casting, ceramic and glass; print resources which provide excellent facilities for bookmaking and paper-based printmaking using a range of processes; and professional-standard, large-format digital printing and print finishing and a vinyl cutter enabling designs to be cut from many types of vinyl.
Fine Art students will also be able to borrow a range of photography equipment including digital SLR cameras for still and moving image, lighting, and a range of support equipment, which can be used in our lighting studios or off-site. Computer suites house networks of Apple Mac computers featuring regularly updated, industry-standard software for a wide range of creative applications that support all our courses and a purpose-built specialist library which includes including special collections of artists’ books, photobooks and illustrated books as well as the University archive. Self service facilities are available throughout, supported by a dedicated and experienced team of library staff.
BA (\Hons) Fine Art
Virtual Tour
Study Abroad
Studying abroad can help Leeds Arts University students gain valuable experience, broaden their horizons, develop international networks and experience their practice from a different perspective. Leeds Arts University has a global network of international partner universities in 15 different countries. Students can apply for a semester abroad in their second year of study.
Accolades
Our students win many prestigious awards and prizes. Recently, these have included:
Associate Artists for Yorkshire Sculpture International
Winner Ingram Collection Purchase Prize
The Kenneth Armitage Student Sculpture Award
The British Art Medal Project Award
Aon Community Art Awards
Winner of The Northern Art Show Award Bursary
Winner of The Drawing Year at Royal Drawing School
Our students have also been shortlisted for the Royal British Society of Artists Rome Scholarship, John Moores Painting Prize, The Lynn Painters and Stainers’ British Painting Prize and the Royal Academy Summer Show.
Career Opportunities
Graduates go into a wide variety of careers including independent art practice, community arts, curating, arts management, arts therapies, and teaching. Graduates also continue to postgraduate study.