Fine artist

You'll need a high level of skill and talent in your chosen art form. To develop these skills, you could train by doing a degree or postgraduate award.

Subjects include:

• art and design
• art history
• fine art
• visual arts
• graphic arts
• printmaking

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• a foundation diploma in art and design

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could do a college course like art and design or creative practice, to develop your skills.

Courses will usually give you the option to choose to study your preferred medium, for example:

• painting or drawing
• printmaking
• photography and digital arts
• ceramics
• sculpture

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Volunteering with community arts projects can open up possibilities and extend your network of contacts, which might be useful for finding work.

If you're exceptionally talented and have taught yourself, you may be able sell your work without formal training or qualifications.

Career Tips

When applying for art courses, you will often need a portfolio of your work. It is a good idea to make a start on this as early as possible.

As a fine artist, you'll need to be able to promote yourself in different ways.

You could:

• create an online presence through your own website, blog or social media channels
• join together with other artists to form a 'collective' or artistic community
• organise your own shows in galleries or other venues

You could also:

• get an agent
• illustrate products like books or greetings cards

Entering competitions or open exhibitions can also raise your profile as an artist. a-n The Artists Information Company regularly lists opportunities.

Professional and Industry Bodies

You could become a member of a-n The Artists Information Company or Visual Artists Association for networking and professional development opportunities.

Further Information

You can find out more about becoming a fine artist from:

• Artquest
• Crafts Council

As a fine artist, you'llcreate artworks from your own ideas, or commissions from an individual or an organisation; promote and sell your work through an agent, or through galleries, exhibitions, shops or online; research subject matter, materials and new artistic techniques; develop your expertise in one or more media; network with agents, dealers, gallery owners and other artists; attend exhibitions and join artists’ groups

You might also:

• work as ‘artist in residence’ – running classes and workshops in places like schools, prisons or hospitals
• teach art classes privately, in colleges or community learning centres
• run local art projects

You could work in a creative studio, in a workshop or from home.