Fine Art

Fine art is the study and practice of visual art making as both a creative discipline and an intellectual inquiry. It encompasses a range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, photography, video, printmaking, and digital practice, and it develops both technical skill in these media and the conceptual and critical thinking that distinguishes art education from mere technical training. A fine art degree asks you to develop a personal practice, to understand art in its historical and contemporary contexts, and to articulate what your work is doing and why it matters, preparing you to work as an artist in the fullest professional sense.

At Southampton Solent University, this three-year programme includes a foundation year and is taught by a passionate team of artists, curators, and theorists in a supportive and creative community. The foundation year gives you the opportunity to explore painting, sculpture, and applied art in a structured way before the main degree begins, developing your technical skills and creative confidence while you discover which areas of practice you wish to pursue more deeply. Throughout the degree you will develop your practice through regular studio work, critique, and engagement with the contemporary art world, building the portfolio and professional understanding that a career as an artist requires.

Solent's location in Southampton gives you access to a growing cultural and arts scene and reasonable proximity to London's major galleries and institutions.

A typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects an accessible entry standard for a programme that assesses creative potential and commitment alongside academic achievement.

Graduates of fine art programmes work as practising artists, often combining studio practice with teaching, arts facilitation, gallery and museum roles, community arts work, and a range of other creative careers. Many continue to postgraduate study in fine art or related visual arts disciplines. The skills developed in fine art, in creative problem-solving, visual communication, and independent inquiry, are valued well beyond the art world itself.