About Fine Arts
Students studying Fine Arts at York St John receive
specialist tuition in both conceptual and practical aspects of
contemporary fine art practice. Our programme is geared towards
developing students' understanding of the location of fine art
within contemporary society. Through this, we help them unlock
their potential as emerging art practitioners. Students are exposed
to a wide variety of historical and theoretical material while
simultaneously accessing a wide variety of contemporary art
practices. Students take part in dedicated history and theory
modules and specialist studio based classes and workshops. Both
aspects of the course typically include skills workshops, talks by
visiting arts professionals, trips to exhibitions and opportunities
to participate in international exchange programs.
The numbers of students studying on the course
is kept intentionally small so that staff can gain an intimate
knowledge of each student’s developing practice over the course of
the three year programme. The same tutors who teach in the studio
also teach on the historical and theoretical modules of the degree
programme. Thus students are given the best possible support in the
development of their own practice. All staff are internationally
active practitioners within their own fields, producing artworks
and publishing texts.
Our graduates develop and sustain their creative practice through a
wide range of routes including sale of work, commissions, grants
and residences. Many also apply their learning through arts
therapy, teaching, community arts work, curating and arts
management or within other areas of the creative industries such as
media production. Many will also later incorporate postgraduate
study and advanced research into their practice.
Student voices
"I love how personal the
course is, all the lecturers know who we are and how we work -
they're really approachable." - Jo Taylor
"The course is structured but still gives you room to
breath. I never feel tied down to thinking or working in a specific
way." - Issy Rawson
"The modules are great, and always diverse. There's a
natural balance between them which means it's easy to apply
yourself to them in equal amounts" - Laura
Hamilton
"I'm a joint honours student and find that the creative
skills I learn studying fine art really helps me in my other
subject (English Literature). I know I have the skills to think
outside of the box and approach things differently to
others." - Grace Doughton
Catherine Scriven
Catherine Scriven, a Fine Art graduate from York St John
University, had her first public commission of artwork in 2011,
marking the start of a historic heritage trail at York St John.
The artwork ‘Alumni Abundantes 1841 - 2010’, meaning alumni in
abundance, depicts an artistic collection of the many York St John
alumni and staff. The six aluminium panels, were created
using the University archives of both York and Ripon, as well as
the memories and experiences of alumni. Catherine graduated in 2008
and was awarded the University’s Start4Art prize for outstanding
achievement. She has recently secured a residency with HAFNEY
(Hospital Arts for North East Yorkshire) to produce public work for
one of the hospitals. Catherine uses a combination of digital
photography, drawing, printing and handmade papers. In her practice
she focuses on repetitive processes, everyday routine structures
and systems.
More of Catherine's work can be viewed here