How to create a suitable portfolio for art studies in the UK? Advice from an art student.

Portfolio is considered as one of the most important factors of any application to art courses. Is there a one-size-fits-all solution to prepare portfolio? Surely - since it's art and creativity is a valuable element - there isn't. However, learning from others' experiences can offer valuable insights and guidance on this path. This article is based on the experience of one of our applicants - Monika - who has successfully been admitted to one of the best universities in the UK - Newcastle University.

First, I reached for more information

The first thing I tackled was a thorough search of what such a portfolio should look like. Reading "portfolio guidance" on university websites placed next to the course description, I learned that in the United Kingdom, there are not such strictly defined requirements regarding size, technique, and subject as when applying to many Fine Arts academies in Europe. I realized that instead, universities here want to see who I am and what I’m interested in.

Universities are looking for applicants who can develop their ideas, think conceptually, use various techniques, and observe the world around them. And that's exactly what I decided to show.

I kept expanding the portfolio

I started preparing my portfolio about half a year before submitting it, although I also included some earlier works. Those months were a time of very intense work. I did not give up when something did not go well. However, if something turned out well, I did not stop at one drawing but developed those ideas further. If I liked a particular topic, I continued it, using various techniques. I reviewed the works I created as I went along and decided what was still missing. I remembered that observational drawings count, so whenever I went out, I took my sketchbook with me and drew even friends during breaks at school or the interiors of cafes I visited.

I showed that I use various techniques.

I tried to show that I can use as many techniques as possible - ultimately I applied a dozen of them, so aside from pencil, ink, or oil paints, there were also, for example, linocuts.

Interestingly, I only included one 3D work and then it was exactly what I was asked about at every interview. Despite not the best quality, the work proved that I am open to looking for new solutions. It was a confirmation that I would manage with creating in three dimensions during my studies, even though I hadn't had much to do with it before.

I combined everything into one whole

My portfolio starts and ends with two of my best works. It contains several series of works that show how I developed longer projects - from the initial free sketches enriched with quick notes, through more detailed drawings, to the finished paintings. In addition, for a few works, I added their photos at various stages of development. Both methods turned out to be a bullseye, because they show how my thinking evolved. And because the deadline was close, I also included one unfinished work, writing underneath "in progress" - it could very well be this way.

I adapted to the requirements

I was surprised that the requirements of different universities regarding the form of the portfolio itself varied so much from each other. As an applicant from outside the UK, I could submit a digital version of my portfolio, however, the term "digital version" meant something different at each university. For example, while for the University of Southampton I could set up a blog and decide myself how many works I wanted to include, Newcastle University asked for sending 30-50 works on a CD, and the University of Leeds required no more and no less than just 12 works posted on a platform like Flickr. Thus, applying to 5 universities, I prepared 5 different versions of my portfolio based on the same works.

My portfolio and personal statement

I read somewhere that it's best if the Personal Statement is reflected in the portfolio and vice versa, which is why I wanted to create several concrete connections between them. And so, if in my cover letter I wrote, for example, that I am inspired by a certain Australian artist or that I recently tried a previously unknown glazing technique, then my portfolio includes works that illustrate this. Thanks to this, the entire application looks coherent and clearly shows what interests me in art.

I used the experience of others.

The Facebook group Studia Art, Media i Design from Smart Prospects turned out to be very helpful, as I could get in touch with current students and other applicants who had already submitted portfolios for this and similar fields.

I was surprised by the openness of these people, as they sent me links to their own work without any problem. Although I was applying for Fine Art, it was worth looking at portfolios even for architecture to understand what kind of work is generally liked in the UK. Besides, this group is a great place where I could ask really anything related to the portfolio in case of doubts.

To summarize - I liked it!

Preparing my portfolio turned out to be an adventure and motivation for me – I can confidently say that this half-year was the time when my best works were created. I learned a new way of thinking about art. I'm certain that studying my field at Newcastle University will be even more exciting!