One-to-one portfolio mentorship and artistic direction

Cadmium is a premium, artist-led mentorship service for art school portfolio and admissions preparation.

We work with applicants preparing portfolios for foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate art programmes, providing bespoke one-to-one mentorship to develop a clear visual language, build a cohesive body of work, and articulate ideas confidently in portfolios, interviews and written components such as personal statements, research proposals and essays.

Cadmium also works with practising artists and career-changers who want focused creative direction and a stronger professional portfolio.

All mentorship is delivered by practising, internationally exhibiting artists.

Mentorship begins with a 60-minute consultation to understand your goals, current work, deadlines and priorities, and identify where support would have the greatest impact.

From there, we recommend the most appropriate mentorship route for your needs and, where relevant, match you with a specialist mentor. Your programme is then structured around your goals, timeline and the level of support required.

Throughout the mentorship, we review your work in depth and use focused feedback, project development and strategic guidance to strengthen your ideas and build a cohesive body of work. Where relevant, we also support portfolio selection and presentation, written statements, applications and interview preparation, so every part of your submission works together effectively.

The earlier you begin, the more time there is to develop a strong body of work and refine your application.

We typically recommend students start working with Cadmium several months before their application deadlines so that projects can evolve gradually and the portfolio can develop real depth.

However, we also work with students at later stages of the process and can help refine portfolios and applications under tight deadlines.

Yes. Many students come to Cadmium with deadlines already approaching. We focus on identifying the strongest work, strengthening the overall portfolio, and closing gaps quickly and strategically.

With focused mentorship, it’s still possible to make a significant difference on a tight timeline.

For students working within very tight deadlines, the Fast-Track Portfolio Intensive or a 90-Minute Portfolio Review can provide focused expert feedback and clear guidance on how to strengthen your portfolio before submission.

Cadmium mentorship is tailored to each artist’s goals, portfolio stage and application timeline, so programme pricing varies depending on the level and duration of support required.

We begin with a 60-minute consultation (£150) to review your current work, priorities, deadlines and goals. Following the consultation, we’ll recommend the most appropriate mentorship or support route and provide clear pricing before you decide whether to proceed.

Some artists need focused support over a shorter period, while others work with us over several months to develop a complete portfolio, application or body of work.

Our 60-minute consultation is a focused one-to-one session to discuss your current work, goals, challenges and next steps.

Depending on your needs, we can review your portfolio, artistic practice, application materials, academic writing or dissertation, discuss upcoming deadlines or target institutions, and identify the areas where support would have the greatest impact.

You’ll leave with clear priorities and practical next steps, and where appropriate, we’ll recommend the mentorship or support route best suited to your goals.

Most Cadmium mentorship takes place online via video call. Sessions are focused and detailed: we look closely at your work, make precise edits to selection and structure, and shape what to make next, so you leave each session with clear direction.

In-person sessions in London are available as an optional add-on, by arrangement, depending on availability and the nature of the work.

Yes. Cadmium regularly works with artists who are neurodivergent, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other learning differences.

Mentorship is adapted to the way each artist thinks and works. Some students benefit from clearer structure and pacing, while others work best through open exploration and discussion.

The goal is always the same: to create an environment where artists can develop their ideas with clarity and confidence.

Yes. 

Cadmium works with students from the UK and internationally.

Most mentorship takes place online, so we regularly support applicants applying to art schools across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia.

No – admissions decisions are made by the institutions, so we can’t guarantee an offer.

What we can do is strengthen what you control: the quality of the work, the clarity of the portfolio edit, and how convincingly your ideas are communicated.