BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking
Designed to immerse you in a wide range of traditional and contemporary techniques, you will simultaneously develop a distinct creative voice as a contemporary professional artist.
Our tutors are all practising artists who bring unique, independent experience to the classroom and studio teaching. The course specialises in the embodied practice of painting, with the synergy of drawing and fine print together with colour as a conceptual and pedagogical practice.
Based in large, open-plan studios designed with lofted ceilings and windows that allow for northern exposure to natural light, you will be encouraged to develop an ambitious working practice through encounters with all three disciplines.
During the three years of concentrated study, a comprehensive series of technical workshops and material demonstrations provide a core component to the curriculum, fostering a hands-on, deep material knowledge that will directly inform the ideas, methods and idiosyncrasies of your emergent studio practice.
We teach the six visual languages: tone, line, space, movement, shape and colour, enabling each student to be able to express their own imagination and find their own voice, to become the painters, artists, and printmakers of the next generation.
'Eight x Four' by Nicky Harwood
Take advantage of the many cultural and community based institutions located in and near Plymouth, providing you opportunities to see and participate in timely exhibitions that increase your knowledge of the contemporary art world. Recent student trips have included visits to Tate Galleries in London and St.Ives and Barbara Hepworth Museum, Spike Island and Arnolfini Gallery, Hauser & Wirth and to the Rabley Drawing Centre. Students in the course have travelled internationally to attend the Impact 10 international printmaking conference in Santander, Spain, and have recently toured galleries and art fairs in Madrid, Berlin, and Amsterdam.
With active and ongoing university initiatives that help students develop relationships with the contemporary art world and curators, our students show their work in galleries in and near Plymouth, and have previously toured their degree shows at Second Floor Studios in London. Recent contributors to the programme include Turner Prize nominee Ciara Phillips, Freelands Foundation Creative Director painter and educator Dr. Henry Ward, Sue Kennington, Sarah Hoskins Josie Cockram (Royal Academy Schools alumni) and painters Nina Royle. Our students have gone on to establish successful art practices in Plymouth, Falmouth, St Ives, Exeter, Bristol, London and Europe.
In the 2023 National Student Survey, 100% of BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking students agreed that, “they had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth”, “the course developed their knowledge and skills that they think they will need for the future”, “the IT resources and facilities supported their learning well”, “the library resources supported their learning well”, and “the students’ union represented students’ academic interests well”.
98% of BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking students responded positively to the theme of questions in “Learning resources” and 93% responded positively to the theme of questions in “Academic support”. 93% of students also agreed that “the course has the right balance of directed and independent study”, “they received assessment feedback on time”, “feedback helped improve their work”, “it was easy to contact teaching staff when they needed to”, “the teaching staff supported their learning well”, “the changes to teaching on the course was communicated well”, and “it was easy to access subject specific resources when they needed them”.
93% of BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking students also responded positively to the newest NSS questions, “During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions and beliefs?” demonstrating how hard we work to create a campus culture where all students thrive in an inclusive and supportive environment.
- Email: PDP@aup.ac.uk
- Tel: +44 (0)1752 203434
- Instagram: @aup_pdp