Our courses have a proven track record and are widely respected. We offer intensive BA (Hons) and MA courses in contemporary Fine Art, Illustration, the Conservation of cultural objects and books and paper artefacts, and Carving. We maintain our fees in line with UK degrees while upholding a commitment to high levels of contact time with active professionals. Our Higher Education courses benefit from considerable bursary support from a wide range of generous benefactors. Our highly successful Foundation Diploma prepares students for further study in many different areas of art and design and has an excellent reputation, supporting students to progress to their preferred undergraduate courses.
Founded in 1854 as a social enterprise, the Art School is proud of its heritage, expertise, high standards and student-centred approach. It remains small in scale because we know from experience the huge benefits of a supportive creative community
With inspiring tutors who are active practising professionals, as well as Artists in Residence and Fellows, our courses are intensive, because ‘full time’ for us genuinely means 5 days a week, and our staff to student ratios are impressive. The specialist nature of the Art School means we can focus on excellence and provide the one-to-one attention our subjects require.
Visit any of our studios and you’ll be struck by the atmosphere of curiosity, application and ambition. Our tutors enjoy teaching here – and our students thrive – because of the exceptional level of engagement. Whether newly specialising or developing existing skills, and knowledge, every student counts and is encouraged and supported to exceed their own expectations.
We combine skills-based teaching with contextual Art Histories and History of Ideas programmes that employ London’s Museums and galleries as a crucial resource for regular targeted study trips. Drawing is fundamental to all our courses with a dedicated Drawing Studio open to all, while the fruitful cross-pollination of subjects helps students to develop a deeper understanding of their practice.
Centrally located in a Georgian terrace, purpose built Victorian studios and 1930s warehouse space opposite Kennington Tube station, we are lucky to be part of the area’s burgeoning cultural quarter and to have London’s other key galleries and museums within easy reach. With the Imperial War Museum, Newport Street Gallery, Gasworks, Danielle Arnaud, Greengrassi and Beaconsfield within easy walking distance and the National Gallery and British Museum just a few stops away. Our studios are as generous as our staffing: students have access to their own workspaces, as well as specialist technical facilities such as woodwork, bronze casting, etching and glass-working.
The Art School and its students benefit from the philanthropy of a wide range of institutions and individuals in the form of grants, funded projects, work placements and collaborations.
With a combined staff and student community of just over 320, we care about every individual’s progress and stay in active communication with our alumni, many of whom move directly into professional roles and are leaders in the worlds of art, craft and conservation.
You can download a pdf of our prospectus here and to learn more about our current activities, visit our news page.