Centre for Advanced Practice

Interested in a career in Children’s Book Illustration, or advancing your practice to the next level? With the guidance and support of your tutors, you will have the opportunity to engage with experienced industry professionals, and develop your practice and personal visual vocabulary to a professional standard.

Visitors on previous years have included:

• Davinia Andrew-Lynch, Curtis Browne Agency
• Helen Chapman, Art director Penguin Random House, Bloomsbury, Little Tiger Press, DK & Penguin
• Rebecca Garrill Art Director Andersen Press
• Margaret Hope, art director MacMillan Books
• Anne McNeill, Editorial director Random House and Penguin books
• Rachel Petty, former editorial director Macmillan Children's Books, currently author/illustrator agent at the Blair Partnership
• Arabella Stein, Managing Director, Bright Agency
• Millie Van Grutten RCW Literary Agency

Contemporary Fine Art (CFA) is a two-year part-time, multidisciplinary fine art course based in Central London, offered as an alternative to a conventional undergraduate degree, at a fraction of the cost.

CFA is a studio-based, ideas-led course designed to support the development of an individual creative practice. Year 2 runs on Tuesday, October-June. Most students progress from year 1, but it is possible to enter year 2 directly or sit both courses concurrently where appropriate.

You will be part of a small cohort of dedicated students taught by experienced and professional tutors who are also practicing artists. Basic materials are provided throughout the course, but it is likely that you will need to provide some additional materials, as your work develops and becomes specialised.

The Contemporary Fine Art course was previously known as City Lit Fine Art.

CFA Year 2

Year 2 begins with a series of creative research exercises leading to the self-directed development of a personal project, and the organisation of a group exhibition. This process is supported by various tutor/artists and supplemented by professional practice sessions, external opportunities and engagement with internationally established visiting artists (previous visitors have included Andrew Bick and Haffendi Anuar). There are opportunities to exhibit during the Year 2 course, and completing students receive City Lit certification.

To support the diverse range of practices that might develop, there are options to sit an additional 18 hours on a visual arts course of your choice, enabling each student to enhance or extend practice in a supporting specialism.

Students who have previously completed CFA have progressed to MA courses at the Royal College of Art, UAL and the City and Guilds School of Art, while others have established themselves as independent practitioners, joined studios or formed artist collectives.