COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA Painting course is structured into three core units that guide students through a deep, reflective, and expansive exploration of painting as a contemporary practice. The first unit, the painted language, introduces students to the fundamental materials, methods, and contexts of painting. Through critical analysis, practical engagement, and exploration of historical and cultural perspectives, students begin to decode their personal relationship with the medium. This unit is especially valuable for those coming from different academic backgrounds or with limited experience in critical theory, as it supports the development of essential skills and new ways of working.In the second unit, everything in its wrong place, students are encouraged to engage more deeply with their practice through focused enquiry. The unit promotes independent research and experimentation, challenging students to clarify their creative processes, articulate their personal methodologies, and situate their work within contemporary debates. This phase is marked by dialogue, critique, and the exploration of the habits and rituals that define their painting identity.The final unit, head, heart and hand, is centred on producing a fully resolved and conceptually coherent body of work. This unit is self-directed, with students working independently to meet the creative challenge of a deadline. The culmination of the course is a public exhibition, where students must consider how to present their work through curatorial strategies, narrative coherence, and audience engagement. This final stage synthesises technical skill, critical understanding, and professional readiness, preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully to the contemporary painting landscape or pursue further research and practice in the arts.