Art and Design (Fine Art)

Course summary

Discover exciting new ways to express your visual creativity. Explore a wide range of media including painting, printmaking, sculpture and photography. Find inspiration in the work of other artists and try out their techniques. Fine Art offers a rich, personal experience and the freedom to explore ideas, experiment and take risks. If you think visually and have a genuine passion for art, you’ll love studying it at A-level. What you’ll study This is a highly practical course with an emphasis on drawing. You’ll also develop your understanding of the work of others through in-depth analysis and research. Throughout your studies, you’ll use sketchbooks and mounted presentation sheets to show how your thinking and ideas evolve. In the first year, we’ll introduce you to new techniques and processes, asking you to use selected media to respond in personal, meaningful ways to clear starting points. You’ll then be set an in-school exam in the spring term which you will sit in the summer term. In your second year, you’ll work more independently and manage your timescales, but you’ll still enjoy one-to-one tutorials and group discussions – helping you reflect on your practice. You’ll spend this year on your two-term, externally assessed Personal Investigation and in February you will prepare for your Externally Set Assignment. Where Art can take you Art will develop your creativity, curiosity, originality and problem solving skills – qualities that are all highly valued by employers. You could go on to study for a career in architecture, advertising, animation, graphic design, set design or photography – to name but a few. Even if you don’t want to pursue an artistic career, your ability to think imaginatively and originally about issues will stand you in good stead whatever path you take.