Created by Sam Machell BA Hons Fine Art

BA (Hons) Fine Art

Our BA (Hons) Fine Art programme promotes contemporary art practice in its broadest sense, we encourage an ambitious, self-directed and critically engaged approach to creative practice.

<p>This is a dynamic programme where you will gain skills to critically question and actively create. You will explore interdisciplinary modes of practice and gain valuable experience of the creative sector creating lasting professional networks for your creative future.</p>
100% of BA (Hons) Fine Art students agreed that “during their studies, they felt free to express their ideas, opinions and beliefs.”
- National Student Survey 2023
<p>The course will accelerate your creative ideas, working in a multidisciplinary environment with access to a range of processes (including 2D, 3D, 4D and hybrid practices) and workshops in sound drawing, performance painting, scale sculpture, performance, video, projection mapping, sound, traditional printmaking, welding, mould making, casting, critical and reflective writing. </p> <p>You’ll develop your individual artistic practice within the supportive environment of an independent specialist art university, with a focus on the intersection of creativity and social justice. As well as gaining a high level of practical skill in your chosen field, you will learn how to work to a brief, how to deconstruct the brief, explore creative ideas singularly and with peers, and collaboratively manage projects to creative conclusion. </p>
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Students exhibit work throughout the year – including at the university's annual Degree Shows.

<p>Our Fine Art course encourages an ambitious diversity of approaches in thinking and making based on supporting your personal creative development through exposure to a wide variety of material methods and modes of art practice. With opportunities for working collaboratively, deepening cultural understanding through cross-fertilisation of ideas and exploring new processes in workshops, you’ll be working in a dynamic and rigorous learning environment that provides a meaningful link between your studio practice and contemporary art theory.</p>
100% of BA (Hons) Fine Art students agreed that “...the course challenges you to achieve your best work”.
- National Student Survey 2023
dOgMiLk Bad Times Fine Art Feb2020 Sarah Packer 19
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From forming international artist collectives and exhibiting at Art Weekenders to transforming Tate Modern's Switch House into a pop-up factory as part of Tate Exchange — our students regularly engage with the public and gaining vital artist exposure.

<p>Led and supported by a stimulating community of creative practitioners, the core academic team are experienced, practising artists who are active makers, writers and researchers in contemporary fine art practice. </p> <p>You will develop an unrivalled understanding of the professional art world through our ongoing partnerships which include emerging and established galleries, museums, creative organisations and practising artists. In previous years, Fine Art students and staff have participated in Tate Exchange at Tate Modern, as part of the university’s commitment to socially-engaged forms of art and cultural practice. The university’s on-site public exhibition space, MIRROR, also draws a range of national and international artists and exhibitions, allowing you the opportunity to engage with artists through related workshops, talks and screenings.</p> <p>Graduates from our Fine Art course regularly go on to land residences and exhibition opportunities at some of the UK’s most exciting contemporary art spaces – including KARST, Tate Exchange and Ocean Studios.</p>
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BA (Hons) Fine Art students enjoy access to a dedicated workspace at Studio 11. Facilities include a photography darkroom, bookable installation area and mac suite.

<p dir="ltr"><strong>BA (Hons) Fine Art is our top performing subject in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2023.</strong> 100% of students responded positively to the following questions:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How often does feedback help you to improve your work?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How well have teaching staff supported your learning?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How well have the library resources (e.g. books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?”</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">“During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?”</p></li></ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>That’s the best possible student response to 13 of the 27 questions put to students in the National Student Survey 2023!</strong> This is a fantastic result for BA (Hons) Fine Art at Arts University Plymouth. Additionally, 100% of our Fine Art students responded positively for the NSS question theme of “Academic support”, 98% for “Assessment and feedback”, 97% for “Learning resources”, 94% for “Teaching on my course”, plus 92% for “Learning opportunities” and “Student voice”.</p>
Paul Hillon

Trinitatem, Paul Hillon, BA (Hons) Fine Art


<p>All students at Arts University Plymouth can access specialist support via our Student Support Team. Our trained advisers offer information and guidance on student finance and funding, disability support, counselling and more.<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/disability-support-and-reasonable-adjustments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br /><br />Click here</a> to read more about the support we offer.</p>
<ul><li><strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:fineart@aup.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fineart@aup.ac.uk</a></li><li><strong>Instagram: </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/aup_fineart/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@aup_fineart</a></li></ul>