Fine Art

Fine art is the discipline of making work in response to ideas, materials and the world, developing a practice that is simultaneously creative, critical and conceptually informed. Unlike applied art or design, fine art does not serve a predetermined function: it asks questions rather than solving problems, and the process of making is itself a form of enquiry. A fine art degree develops your ability to produce original work across a range of media, which might include painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photography, video, installation or performance, while also developing the critical and contextual understanding to situate your practice in relation to contemporary and historical art.

At Nottingham Trent University, this three-year full-time programme is taught in a city with a vibrant creative culture and strong links to the contemporary art world. NTU's art school has well-equipped studios, workshops and digital facilities, and the programme develops both your studio practice and your understanding of art theory, criticism and the professional dimensions of being an artist. The typical entry tariff for this programme is around 120 UCAS points.

You will spend a significant portion of your time working in the studio, developing your practice through sustained project work, experimentation and critique. Tutorials, seminars and crits provide a structure for reflection and dialogue, and the critical studies component develops your understanding of art history, theory and the contemporary art world. By the time you complete the degree, you will have a body of work that represents your practice and a critical framework for discussing and developing it.

Graduates of fine art programmes work as practising artists, often alongside other work in the early stages of a career. Roles in art education at school, college and community level are a very common destination. Others work in galleries, arts organisations, arts administration, artist residency programmes, community arts, public art commissions and curatorial practice.

The critical thinking, visual communication and project management skills developed in fine art are also valued in design, advertising, digital media, fashion and creative direction. Postgraduate study in fine art, curating or art education supports those who wish to develop their practice or professional expertise further.