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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fine Art: Painting

Detail of painting by Florence Mytum.
Detail of painting by Florence Mytum.
College
Wimbledon College of Arts Course length
3 years UCAS code
W121

BA Fine Art Painting at Wimbledon College of Arts offers you the opportunity and resources to develop your own practice as an artist.

Course not taking applications

BA Fine Art Painting at Wimbledon is in closure and will no longer be taking applications.

If you are interested in Fine Art Painting take a look at Camberwell BA Fine Art Painting.

Our studios are a site of production and community. They are spaces where discussion and exchange shape the work students make.

Support will come from experienced and dedicated lecturers, who are active practicing artists. We will encourage you to be inventive, ambitious and professional.

Student work

  • Abstract work on paper and canvas hanging from gallery wall and drapped onto floor by Alice Gatfield.
    Alice Gatfield - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Colourful take on still life by Emily Kelly.
    Emily Kelly - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Installation with tyres, trees and stuff animals by Erin Ross.
    Erin Ross - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Painting with sculptural elements by Florence Mytum.
    Florence Mytum - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Orange and brown pattern based abstract painting by Gayathri Anand.
    Gayathri Anand - BA Fine Art Painting
  • 2 large scale paintings by James Collins.
    James Collins - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Painting of female figure in architectural space by James O'Connell.
    James O'Connell - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Installation work by Jess Bryant featuring performance video, plants and lighting projections.
    Jess Bryant - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Work by Liza Mackintosh using Ash tree bark.
    Liza Mackintosh - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Dark, moody painting featuring a black panther by Mary Furniss.
    Mary Furniss - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Slightly disturbing figurative work by Nancy Doble.
    Nancy Doble - BA Fine Art Painting
  • Sculptural work by Phil Sladek featuring plants and steel.
    Phil Sladek - BA Fine Art Painting

Course overview

What will you learn?

  • Painting processes evolving from hand-driven, mechanical and digital modes of making
  • Drawing as analytical thinking
  • A problem-solving approach to making work
  • Ways to imagine painting as a model for expansive fields and extending the discipline
  • To find your own voice as an artist informed by critical enquiry
  • How to engage and share the studio as a site of enquiry
  • To work on your own and in collaboration with others
  • How to work within a professional landscape of contemporary practice
  • To take ownership of your own learning and practice

How will you learn?

  • Through seminars, reading groups, interactive lectures, peer learning, group tutorials, student-led projects, workshops and technical teaching
  • By going on off-site visits and college trips outside London. These have included Amsterdam, Margate, New York and Rotterdam
  • You will have access to a specialist-painting technician. This will give you technical support and material knowledge
  • Through diverse forms of teaching to suit a range of practices and groups
  • By engaging with spaces off-site where art gets made and exhibited
  • Through a programme of panel discussions, artists' talks and screenings
  • Via painting pathway initiatives such as artists in residence
  • Via our yearly research theme - currently 'Painting as technology'. Keep up to date with Wimbledon's painting led research news and events on paintingresearch.net
  • By using the shared workshops. These include woodwork, print, photographic and audio-visual workshops. There is also a painting methods and materials area. View the Wimbledon facilities

Where will you learn?

In purpose built studios with natural light and a range of project spaces, seminar rooms and lecture theatre.

Course units

Year 1

  • Unit 1: Introduction to Fine Art: Painting, Sculpture, Print and Time-Based Media
  • Unit 2: Introduction to subject specific practice
  • Unit 3: Establishing subject specific practice
  • Unit 4: Introduction to critical practice for fine art

Year 2

  • Unit 5: Understanding collaborative practice
  • Unit 6: Developing subject specific practice part 1
  • Unit 7: Developing subject specific practice part 2
  • Unit 8: Developing contextual practice for fine art

Year 3

  • Unit 9: Realisation of subject specific art practices
  • Unit 10: Realisation of critical practice and research for fine art

Work experience and opportunities

Our students have the opportunity to get involved in external exhibitions with organisations that work closely with us throughout the course, as well as exhibiting at offsite venues. Work placement / experience is part of the second year.

Students can also apply to study abroad in their second and third years as part of the college’s Erasmus scheme.

Learning and teaching methods

  • Artist and professional practice talks and workshops
  • Briefings, discussions, lectures and seminars
  • Cross course group crits
  • Field trips and off-site visits
  • Group and individual presentations and tutorials
  • Independent learning
  • Lectures and artist talks
  • Online learning
  • Peer learning and review
  • Portfolio review
  • Project planning
  • Research training
  • Student presentations
  • Studio and workshop based self directed study and research
  • Study skills
  • Technical workshops and inductions
  • Workshops on writing styles, research methodology and critical debate

Assessment methods

  • Blogs
  • Critical professional practice presentations
  • Exhibition of work
  • Off-site project
  • Peer evaluation
  • Portfolio
  • Presentations
  • Research journal
  • Self evaluation
  • Studio exhibition presentation
  • Technical skills
  • Written work - assignments, essays, reports, scripts and statements

Staff

How to apply

Opportunities for all

We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.

Entry requirements

We select students based on the quality of their applications, looking primarily at their portfolio of work, personal statements and reference.

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

  • A Level - 2 A levels grade C or above
  • or Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • or Pass, Pass, Pass at BTEC Extended Diploma
  • or Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
  • or Access to Higher Education Diploma
  • or Equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications. For example - International Baccalaureate Diploma pass achieved at 24 points or above
  • and 3 GCSE passes grade C or above

We will also consider other evidence of prior learning and experience via Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning - AP(E)L and / or alternative qualifications assessed as offering the same level as the above requirements.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

  • IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our English language requirements)

    • Portfolio advice

    Portfolios should show the following:

    • Clear evidence of independent study and self-initiated work that is both complete and in-progress
    • A selection of work demonstrating an interest in painting
    • A range of ideas, subjects or concerns
    • An ability to be self-reflective
    • An interest in fine art and other visual art forms

    At interview and portfolio review

    We look for:

    • An interest, commitment and motivation for studying the subject
    • A desire to learn and an ability to investigate and develop ideas independently
    • An understanding of the subject and some examples of contemporary and historical art
    • Evidence of some art making skills relevant to the students’ ambitions
    • An ability to communicate visually, verbally and in writing

Making your application

Course suspended

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for 2021/22 entry and is subject to change for 2022/23 entry. Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK resident nationals. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees.

From 2021/22 entry, most EU students will be charged the International tuition fee rate, depending on your individual circumstances. If you started your course in October 2020 or earlier, you’ll continue to pay Home (UK) fees for the duration of your course. Read more advice for EU students.

International fee

£22,920 per year

This fee is correct for 2021/22 entry and is subject to change for 2022/23 entry. Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK are currently charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about our tuition fees.

From 2021/22 entry, most EU students will be charged the International tuition fee rate, depending on your individual circumstances. If you started your course in October 2020 or earlier, you’ll continue to pay Home (UK) fees for the duration of your course. Read more advice for EU students.

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Careers and alumni

This course prepares you for progression into a range of careers such as a practicing artist, arts manager, art writer, curator, gallery educator, teacher, arts educator and technician.

Recent painting graduates have successfully progressed to postgraduate study, as well as exhibiting in the Bloomberg New Contemporaries exhibition and The Saatchi Channel 4 New Sensations exhibition that included 5 Wimbledon painting alumni, out of a total of its' 20 exhibitors.

Past and present students have also used the course placement to establish studio employment links with a variety of artists.

Alumni

Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.

Alumni

Wimbledon College of Arts

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Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 9641
Address
Wimbledon College of Arts
Merton Hall Road
London
SW19 3QA