Stroud School of Art, with over 160 years of history, offers a rich heritage of nurturing artistic talent and innovation. As one of the UK's oldest art institutions, it combines tradition with cutting-edge practices, providing students with a unique blend of time-honoured techniques and modern creative approaches

Projects will cover a broad range of disciplines including Fine Art: 2D painting, 3D sculpture, fashion design, textiles and surface design, graphic design, and illustration.

Additionally, you'll explore 4D design areas such as product design, ceramics, and applied crafts, as well as photography, printmaking and contextual studies.

You will also engage in drawing and sketchbooks, creativity and critical analysis, all based on topical and contextual themes. This diverse approach is designed to prepare you for the type of creative work you aspire to pursue in the future.

The Art Foundation course at Bristol School of Art, WISE Campus, offers a dynamic and immersive experience for students eager to explore and develop their creative potential. This one-year program provides a comprehensive introduction to a range of artistic disciplines, including fine art, graphic design, sculpture, and digital media, helping you build a strong, versatile portfolio. The course is designed to give you the utmost opportunity to expand your creative, theoretical, and contextual skills. As a diagnostic course, it helps you identify your strengths and areas for development, guiding you toward a specialisation.

You’ll be introduced to a wide range of skills and disciplines such as 2D painting, 3D sculpture, fashion design, textiles and surface design, product design, ceramics, photography, printmaking, contextual studies, and more. With modern facilities, dedicated studio spaces, and expert tutors, the WISE Campus offers the perfect environment to experiment, grow, and prepare for higher education or a career in the creative industries

The Art Foundation course at the Historic Bristol School of Art, Queens Road, is the perfect stepping stone for aspiring artists to explore a wide range of creative disciplines before specialising. Set in the heart of Bristol’s vibrant cultural scene, this one-year program helps students develop a strong portfolio while refining their artistic skills.

Initially, students are introduced to our four subject areas, Materials + Making, Visual Communication, Fashion + Textiles, and Contemporary Art Practice. Towards the end of the first semester, students chose their specialist pathway. Our pathways are broad and allow for the development of interdisciplinary practice – essential for all careers within the Creative Industries. As the course progresses, students become increasingly confident writing and responding to briefs. To develop strong critical and analytical skills, students have lectures, seminars and drawing workshops on a Monday. This leads to a greater understanding of the symbiotic relationship between theory and practice. A highlight of the year is the Summer Exhibition where we showcase our students’ self-directed projects.

Our Queens Road campus at Bristol School of Art is situated in the historic art school wing of the Royal West of England Academy. This city-centre location provides a wealth of inspiration for our students. We have a range of studio spaces including specialist workshops for sculpture, small-metalwork, woodwork, ceramics, print, fashion + textiles, and drawing.
Queens Road campus has no parking for students but it is accessible through many bus routes; there is also no canteen at the campus but easy access to a wide variety of food and drink options.