Studying fine art at Plymouth will open a wide range of career choices as it equips you with the skills, knowledge and contacts to enter the world of work and build a career that suits you. You could look at channelling your artist talents by pursuing a career as a professional artist. Many artists are self-employed; selling their work in galleries or selling directly through their own website, gaining commissions or selling licences.
You could also use your artist skills to inspire others and work as a teacher (primary, secondary, further education) or higher education lecturer. Teaching opportunities are also available outside of a traditional classroom setting and you could consider using your artistic flair to engage with people as a community arts worker.
You could also consider less obvious creative paths such as a concept artist for animation, comic books and films or a special effects technician.
There is also a wealth of ‘behind the scenes’ roles such as working as a commercial art gallery manager, exhibition designer, gallery curator or exhibitions officer.
It's worth remembering that many fine art graduates take the skills they have leant elsewhere and find their way into less directly related graduate professions including marketing, the civil service and the charitable sector.
Researching your career options
Given the diversity of career options open to fine art graduates, it is important to research and explore these fully so that you can make informed decisions about your future.
Employment opportunities
Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth fine art graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation:
- Art and Design Technician
- Artist
- Artistic Researcher, Art Teaching Education at Primary Level
- Creative Arts Teacher
- Dance Choreographer
- Pottery Artist and Studio Assistant
- Volunteering and Community Assistant
Employers
- Brook Green Centre for Learning
- Learning Academies Trust
- States of Guernsey (Guernsey Government)
- The Get Messy Projects
- The National Trust
- Voodoo Monkeys Production Company
*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2018/19 – 2020/21. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.