skip to main content

Wimbledon College of Arts

an image

BA (Hons) Fine Art: Painting

College
WIMBLEDON
Start date
September 2018
Course length
3 years
UCAS code
W121

Course summary

Course suspended for 2019/20

BA Fine Art Painting at Wimbledon will not be taking applications for 2019/20.

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

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

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

BA Fine Art Painting Stories

See all stories

Course details

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

2019/20 entry

Course suspended for 2019/20 entry.

You must apply through UCAS, where you’ll need the following information:

  • University code - U65
  • UCAS course code - W121

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application deadline is 15 January.

Following your UCAS application to this course all home / EU applicants will be invited to choose a date for a selection event.

What is a selection event?

A selection event is similar to an interview. You will be expected to bring your portfolio, which will be reviewed by course teams. The event will also give you a chance to meet current students, take a tour of the college and see the facilities.

More details about your selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen your selection event date.

Applicants will be seen by Fine Art tutors from Painting, Print and Time-Based Media and Sculpture. Applicants may be offered a place on an alternative BA Fine Art course at Wimbledon. This decision will be based on our assessment of an applicants' creative potential and interests.

2019/20 entry

Course suspended for 2019/20 entry.

There are 3 ways international students can apply to an undergraduate course at Wimbledon College of Arts:

Find out more information about applying through UCAS.

Interviews and portfolio reviews - international students can be interviewed in a number of different ways:

  • By phone or Skype
  • In your country, if your application was made though one of our official representatives
  • At our international office based at Chelsea College of Arts

Study Abroad

Through the Study Abroad programme international students can apply to join an undergraduate course.

For information on how to apply visit the Study Abroad section.


Fees & Funding

Home / EU fee

£9,250 (2018/19 fees).

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students, in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Please visit our undergraduate tuition fees page for more information.

International fee

£19,350 (2018/19 fees).

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.

Scholarships and awards

Use our search tool to find out more about the scholarships and awards available to students.

Scholarship search

Or view all

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.

View college guides

Contact

  • Telephone: +44 (0)20 7514 9641

Address

  • Wimbledon College of Arts
  • Merton Hall Road
  • London
  • SW19 3QA

Follow us