Fine Art

Fine Art is the practice of making visual work as an expression of ideas, experiences and interpretations of the world, using the full range of media and approaches available to contemporary artists. It is a discipline that resists narrow definition: fine art encompasses painting and drawing, sculpture and installation, printmaking and textiles, lens-based and time-based media, performance and digital art, and the boundaries between these practices are frequently and productively crossed by artists working today. A fine art degree develops your technical expertise, creative thinking and critical self-awareness, equipping you to develop your own practice and to engage intelligently with the history and theory of art.

At the University of Chester, this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year that develops your creative foundations and technical skills before you progress to degree-level work, and a year abroad that broadens your cultural and artistic perspective. You will be supported to engage with a wide range of media and approaches, encouraged to expand the possibilities of your individual practice and equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel as a fine artist in the creative industries. The studio environment provides a space for experimentation, reflection and the development of a distinctive creative identity.

Fine Art graduates go on to careers as practising artists, art educators, gallery educators, curators, arts administrators, community arts workers, art therapists and creative directors. Many develop portfolio careers that combine studio practice with teaching, arts development work and other creative activities. The skills developed through a fine art degree, including creative problem-solving, visual communication and reflective practice, are also valued in design, advertising, publishing and the broader creative sector.

Postgraduate study in fine art, curating or art education is a natural next step for those who wish to develop their practice or move into specialist roles.