Art Portfolio Preparation & Admissions Mentorship
Cadmium offers one-to-one, bespoke art portfolio preparation for students applying to top art schools - develop a distinctive body of work and a successful portfolio application
We Support UK, US, EU & International Applications For:
Foundation
BA/BFA
MA/MFA
PhD
Interviews & Application Writing
Residencies
Grants
Scholarships
Who This Is For
This is for you if you are looking to:
- Apply to highly competitive Fine Art programmes internationally
- Strengthen a portfolio that feels scattered, overworked or conceptually unclear
- Build the ability to edit, structure and refine your existing body of work
- Prepare strategically for portfolio reviews, interviews and selection panels
- Clearly articulate your ideas in your personal statement
- Make serious progress quickly - without losing your voice
What You Leave With
You’ll leave with:
- A clearly structured Fine Art portfolio with a strong throughline across projects, ready for competitive review
- A stronger, more resolved body of work - built on intentional artistic decisions
- Refined annotations, personal statement and application writing that strengthen and position your work effectively
- Interview preparation that is articulate, confident and authentic
- Strategic understanding of how art schools evaluate and select applicants - and therefore how to position your work accordingly
- A more rigorous, self-directed artistic practice you can carry forward beyond art school
Portfolio Pathways
Portfolio Review
90-minute expert review of your portfolio with clear feedback and practical guidance
Fast-Track Portfolio Intensive
A focused multi-session programme designed to significantly strengthen your portfolio before application
Portfolio Mentorship
Long-term structured mentorship supporting portfolio development, applications and artistic direction.
How We Transform Your Art Portfolio
1
Clarify Your Direction
2
Develop Stronger Work
3
Submit With Confidence
Portfolios strengthened. Offers secured.
Edinburgh · UAL · Glasgow
“I worked with my tutor while preparing my portfolio for UK art school applications, including University of Edinburgh and UAL.
The feedback helped me clarify the direction of my work, identify which projects needed further development, and present my portfolio much more clearly for submission and interviews.
I received offers from Edinburgh, UAL and Glasgow, and I’d definitely recommend this support to students applying to competitive art and design courses.”
А
Анастасия Левенцова
★★★★★
Central Saint Martins
“My understanding of how to apply for a Fine Art master’s changed completely.
I learned how to turn my ideas into strong visual compositions and secured my place at Central Saint Martins. This support marked my very first step toward becoming an artist.”
宫宸
★★★★★
Goldsmiths
“The support was extremely helpful in preparing my BA Fine Art portfolio and interview. My tutor looked at my work very carefully and helped me choose the strongest pieces for my portfolio, while also showing me how to explain the hidden ideas and layers behind my paintings more clearly.
The guidance made me feel much more confident in presenting my practice at interview, and helped me communicate the essence of my work properly. I was very happy to receive a place on BA Fine Art at Goldsmiths.”
A
Alina Sementsova
★★★★★
SVA · Parsons · Pratt · MassArt · Otis · UCD · UC Santa Cruz · SAIC
“I worked with my tutor while preparing my portfolio for US art school applications, including School of Visual Arts and Parsons The New School.
The process of preparing my portfolio for applications became much more doable and the feedback was very useful for helping me understand the criteria of art schools.
I got lots of good results and received offers from SVA, Parsons, Pratt Institute, MassArt, Otis, UCD, UC Santa Cruz and SAIC. I’m very happy about my results!”
Mai Khanh
★★★★★
The Slade School of Fine Art, UCL
“My tutor was extremely helpful during my university application process, specifically regarding my personal statement and art portfolio.
I received structured guidance on brainstorming new artworks and practical advice on how to tailor my portfolio to meet the requirements of my chosen course. The support demonstrated a thorough understanding of the admissions process and was clear and professional throughout.
I got into all the courses that I applied for, and I will be heading to UCL to pursue Art and Technology.”
Annika Tsang
★★★★★
UAL Foundation
“Working with my tutor gave me the confidence to actually submit my application rather than endlessly questioning it.
The tools and ways of thinking I learned continued to be useful beyond that moment. The following year, I applied many of the same approaches when applying to the Turps Studio Programme, which was also successful.
With this support I was accepted onto the UAL Foundation course, which became the starting point for my transition into fine art practice.”
Serena Holliday
★★★★★
of Cadmium admissions students to date have secured an offer from one of their top-choice institutions.
90 minutes · online · £250
Know exactly what to prioritise before you submit.
Our Tutors
Our tutors are Internationally exhibited, practising artists with proven experience navigating competitive foundation, BA and MA/MFA Fine Art admissions.
Cyrus
Artist & Filmmaker
- LONDON, UK
- ALSO Speaks: mandarin, CANTONESE
Amélie
Artist
- london, uk.
- ALSO Speaks: french
Hazel
Artist
- London and Newcastle, U.K.
Sean
Artist & Draughtsman
- LONDON, UK and Bangkok, Thailand
Enrica
Artist
- london, uk.
- ALSO Speaks: Italian
Carlotta
Artist
- London, U.K.
- ALSO Speaks: Italian
FAQs
Cadmium students have received offers from 40+ leading art schools worldwide across the UK, Europe, the United States and Asia.
Recent offers have included institutions such as Central Saint Martins (UAL), the Slade School of Fine Art (UCL), Goldsmiths, the Royal College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), UCLA and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).
Students have also received offers from a wide range of highly regarded institutions including UAL colleges, Royal Academy Schools, Polimoda, Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK), Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and others.
Yes. We help students shape application writing so it accurately reflects the work: clarifying the central ideas, strengthening context and references, and tightening structure and language. Where required, we also support research proposals, essays and other written components, ensuring the writing is grounded in the practice and positioned within contemporary art discourse.
Yes. Cadmium supports the portfolio and admissions process holistically, so interview preparation is shaped around the work itself. We help students refine how they present their portfolio: what to foreground, how to explain decisions, how to discuss influences and process, and how to respond to typical panel questions. Mock interviews are typically included in our Portfolio & Admissions packages where appropriate.”
A strong art school portfolio shows more than finished pieces. It demonstrates how you think: process, development, decision-making, and the ability to build a coherent body of work over time.
Most successful portfolios include a clear thread running through the work, evidence of experimentation and iteration, and enough contextual awareness to show that the practice is informed rather than random.
At Cadmium, we help you identify what’s strongest, develop new work where needed, and edit and sequence the portfolio so it reads as intentional, distinctive, and aligned with the expectations of your target schools.
Yes. Many students begin when they have only a small amount of work or feel unsure what direction to take.
We focus on developing new projects, strengthening the central ideas, and building a cohesive body of work that can grow into a strong portfolio over time.
Choose your next step.
Whether you need focused feedback on an existing portfolio or broader guidance on your work, applications and next steps, choose the support that fits where you are now.
1-Hour Consultation
Broader advice on your work, goals and next steps.
Best if you need help deciding what support you need, how to approach your application, or what direction to take next.
1 hour · online · £150
Portfolio Review
Existing portfolio. Focused expert feedback.
Review your current work and get clear direction on what to keep, change and prioritise before you submit.
90 minutes · online · £250
Looking for ongoing support? Explore Portfolio & Admissions Mentorship →