Illustration & Concept Art

Join us and be part of a vibrant studio culture and community of students working individually and collaboratively to help shape the future of the U.K. Creative Industries. On our exciting and unique Illustration & Concept Art degree you'll learn from experienced lecturers/practitioners and engage with innovative, industry aligned curriculum that encourages you to push boundaries and explore new approaches. With hands-on experience, digital fluency, a diverse creative skillset, professional and entrepreneurial abilities, our graduates are equipped to hit the ground running, and launch their careers creating distinctive, high quality visual content for the publishing, editorial, advertising, animation, film, television and video games industries.

The primary way of delivering this programme is on campus. Students will receive equivalent to 15 hours of teaching per week, within a thirty-week academic year. Additional one-to-one meetings with tutors will provide further support and allows a perfect opportunity to review and reflect.

Our degree is tailored to match the needs of today's dynamic and digitally driven world, with the emphasis on cultivating graduates that are talented and multi-skilled illustrators and concept artists, possessing the skills and professional abilities to work within the Creative Industries.

Career pathways include but are not limited to: Junior & Senior Character/Environment Concept Artist, Children's Book Illustrator, Editorial/Publishing/Advertising Illustrator, Storyboard Artist and Art Director.

If you wish to continue studying beyond this course you will have the academic, professional, and creative skillset to do so, whether it be studying for a Master’s Degree in your specialist subject area or studying for a Post-Graduate Teaching Qualification.

The key to success is for you to stay passionate, continue learning and growing, and be open to new opportunities and experiences.

Our modules are designed to build and extend your creative skillsets and knowledge of illustration and concept art for the creative industry fields, such as: film, television, animation, video games, children’s picture books, publishing, editorial, design and advertising.

During your study with us you'll study a number of modules that total 120 credits per year.

This course includes the following core modules that all students complete:

Level 4 | Year 1
Drawing Fundamentals – 20 credits
Digital Illustration Fundamentals – 20 credits
History of Art & Design – 20 credits
Drawing & Concept Art – 20 credits
Digital Illustration & Design – 20 credits
History of Illustration: Theory & Practice – 20 credits

Level 5 | Year 2
Industry Practice Report – 20 credits
Industry Practice Project – 20 credits
Self-Promotion & Industry Contacts – 20 credits
Commercial Project – 20 credits
Specialist Industry Project – 40 credits

Level 6 | Year 3
Independent Research Project – 40 credits
Major Project Visual Development – 20 credits
Major Project Realisation – 40 credits
Portfolio Development & Promotion – 20 credits

Your personal art style and voice will evolve as you progress through each level of the course.

Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Students will be notified when applicable.

Coursework Submission and Assessment:
Throughout the course, there are a variety of assessment methods to assess creative, academic, and professional skills. These include:
• Creative Journals (sketchbooks with combined research and drawing)
• Project Design Books (project development & reflective evaluations)
• Traditional portfolio of work
• Digital Portfolios of Work
• Presentations (oral and visual)
• Reports and Essays
• End of Year Shows
• Graduate Exhibition