BA (Hons) Fine Art Student Stories

Emily Gillbanks, BA (Hons) Fine Art Graduate

"The course from day one has helped me to develop my technical painting skills, through workshops and talks with visiting artists. 

The well-lit studios are where each student is allocated a dedicated space to work in independently alongside peers for all three years of the degree, which has a supremacy in comparison to the amount of space allocated at other institutions." 

Felicity Beaumont, BA (Hons) Fine Art Graduate

“The tutors encourage and support students to think outside the box, cultivating the development of each individual’s practice with revolutionary and daring ideas … we were always encouraged to push the boundaries of mediums and get stuck into our idea - no matter how weird, wonderful, or messy! 

The diverse course structure delivers professional instruction on everything from traditional painting technique, curation, critical thinking, and contemporary theory, to exhibition installation, professional development, documentation of work, and promoting yourself as an artist. 

Since graduating I have been able to further develop these skills in a professional capacity, building on the confidence I gained while studying at The University of Suffolk.” 

Bobby Forsythe, BA (Hons) Fine Art Graduate

“I graduated with an increasing amount of confidence regarding my creative practice and determination to pursue an art career as a businesswoman. 

Since completion of the course I have taken part in a multitude of opportunities involving collaborations, being published and hosting my first ever solo exhibition. Without the generous facilities, amazing faculty support, various creative opportunities and intense-but incredibly necessary class critiques, I would not be in the position I am in now."

Kieran Wilson, Second Year BA (Hons) Fine Art Student

"The Fine-Art course has really helped me develop in my individual art practice. The amazing facilities and approachable lecturers have helped guide me through the progress of my art career, whilst still allowing me to have an individual style and way of working, as well as encouraging us students to learn from one another as we go along." 

Fred Lankester, Third Year BA (Hons) Fine Art Student

“The tutors and technicians are knowledgeable and helpful beyond my expectations. Through their guidance and encouragement my practice has developed, not only in its context, but with the skills and confidence to approach projects, and exhibitions as a professional creative” 

Patrisiya Banova, First Year BA (Hons) Fine Art Student

“The course has introduced me to new ways I can approach my ideas that will help me build myself as an artist. The staff support our work and development which makes studying more fulfilling” 

Student Successes:

• Final year student Kay Parker is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Colchester Art Society and CFS Graduate Award of a studio at Cuckoo Farm Studios for 1 year, a bursary of £1000 plus many exhibition and mentoring opportunities.

• Two Final year Fine Art students completed new largescale murals; Pippa Worthington, commissioned by Suffolk Constabulary’s police headquarters at Martlesham, and Klaudia Vaskova, commissioned by Suffolk Archives, on the external wall of the Suffolk Archives at The Hold on Fore Street.  

• Final year Fine Art students have been accepted onto MA programs in Arts and Psychotherapy at Brunel, the MFA at University of Teesside and a Masters in Cyber Security here at UoS. As well, 2 Fine art students have been offered studio assistant employment roles with Ryan Gander’s Studio.

• Second year students have just completed a stunning thirty-metre-long mural for Tesco’s Nacton Road branch in Ipswich. The students worked with pupils from the nearby Murrayfield Primary Academy to develop drawings that informed the design of the mural. Additionally, second year Fine Art students are currently completing new site-specific wall-based artwork commissioned by Ipswich Hospital for Poppy and Lark Ward in Woodlands, a mental health facility. 

• Fine Art students Klaudia Vaskova, Pippa Worthington, Alice Crane, Emmalene Maguire, Kay Parker, and Ruth Redgrave were selected to exhibit their printworks in the Whistler Gallery as part of Ipswich Printweek 2022. Overall, students across all levels exhibit their artwork locally, nationally, and internationally. 

• Art Station director Clare Palmier is currently selecting students to be given Art Station Graduate Awards – Funded Solo Exhibitions, the recipients of which will be announced at Graduation 2023.

• As well as having their interim exhibition at Waterfront Foyer, L6 Fine Art students installed their final works for the Arts Degree Show, which was visited by Suffolk based schools, 6^th forms and colleges. Degree Show work by our student Emmalene Maguire has been included in the A-N Degree Show Guide 2023.