Welcome art and design applicants!

Guided campus tour

Get a glimpse into the facilities you will be using as an art and design student at West Notts College.

What our students say

Reece tells us about his time studying with us, highlighting an exciting visit to the headquarters of All Saints, the amazing facilities the college has to offer and more.

Meet the teachers

Get to know to know a bit more about your teachers before you join us.

Anna Tagg

Kerry Bryant

Natasha Simpson

Rosie Deegan

Leanne Wilkins

Jade Birchnall

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  Kit list

  Find out what equipment and resources you'll need before you join as a West Notts student.

  Download kit list

Gallery

Art and Design students venture into Derbyshire to sketch a large-scale sculpture exhibition to inspire their next art project.

Art and design students venture into Derbyshire to sketch a large-scale sculpture exhibition to inspire their next art project.

Art and design students have the space to get messy and experiment with new skills.

My favourite project was surface pattern in my second year, which incorporated my love of illustration and colour, creating strong professional patterns. Each member of the teaching team motivated and helped me through any problems – Christopher Dolman.

A number of materials and resources are available to students to give them the opportunity and freedom to create.

Art and design classes have a practical focus, allowing students to develop their talents further.

The facilities available to use, such as printing, textiles and digital areas are great. There is so much equipment to learn how to use and really helps develop skills – Ruby Townsend.

FAQs - art and design courses

The following information will hopefully give you a little bit more of an insight into what it will be like to be a student with us.

• Where will I study?

  Our art and design courses are based at the Derby Road campus, Mansfield, in the visual arts and design building.

• What is it like?

  College is an adult, professional environment intended to prepare you to work in your chosen industry. We expect our students to behave in the way that they would in a job with an employer. Attendance and punctuality are very important too.

• What will I study?

  The courses are a mix of practical sessions that will encourage you to try a number of different techniques and practices, alongside some classroom-based theory. You will get to try your hand at drawing, painting, ceramics, digital design, textiles, photography, printing and screen printing, 3D design as well as fine art. The higher the level of study programme that you’re on, there will be more theory combined with practical.

• What about English and maths?

  If you start at college and you haven’t yet achieved your English and maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above, then you will continue to study these for three hours each week per subject. At the end of your first year you will take a re-sit GCSE exam. It is important you attend your English and maths lessons alongside your chosen course.

  Take a look at our fact sheets to find out why English and maths is important within this industry.

  View English and maths fact sheets

• What will I have to wear?

  Art and design students can wear whatever they want to come to college in, as long as it’s appropriate and isn’t offensive. We have no dress codes in terms of hair colour, jewellery etc.

• Will I have to do a work placement?

  At levels 2 and 3 you will be expected to complete a work placement. Past students have worked in design studios and even tattoo parlours, designing tattoos for clients! The central work placement team can help find you an opportunity. This is a great way to get your foot in the door and maybe even move into a job.

  All of our students will be able to also get engaged with our learning companies, which provide in-house opportunities to gain real-world experience.

Not answered your question? Then ask your teacher

Send your questions to your teachers using our simple online form.

Ask a question

• Applicant activities

  Before you start at West Notts, here are a few activites to get involved in.

  Submit your portfolio

  Have you had an offer of a place on an art and design course?

  Have you sent us examples of your work yet? If not, please see below.

  We ask that you provide a small portfolio of artwork including sketchbooks, preliminary studies or any other creative work (minimum 6 images), which will support your application. This can be paintings, drawings, pictures of 3D or clay work, textiles, fashion, photography, graphics etc. It can be work you have completed at home or at school.

  You will need to scan or photograph your work and clearly label the files and should include your full name.

  If your files are too large to send by email, please use a service such as Dropbox, WeTransfer or similar and email us the link.

  Please only send your work to us, if you have an offer of a place.

  Submit your portfolio

  Get a head start for college

  Here are a series of tasks for you to try before starting your course. The tasks are designed to help you practice your skills and develop your knowledge of a range of artists.

  By completing these tasks you will be able to get a head start on your course by learning the basics before joining us in September.

  Anything you complete will be able to be used as part of a forthcoming project, so why not give it a go?

  Paint like Edvard Munch

  Paint like Frida Kahlo

  Paint like Georges Braque

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  Kaleidoscope of creativity by aspiring artists and performers

  Each year our students showcase their end-of-year projects by way of galleries, live performances, gigs and more. It’s an exciting time for them to show off the very best of their portfolios before they move on to further studies and employment.

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