Art and Design

More about the course

The Art and Design Foundation Diploma is an exploratory year which will enable you to explore art and design at a higher level and clarify your sense of direction before progressing to university or to employment. You will gain foundational knowledge and experience across contemporary Art and Design practices, develop your own approach within a specialist area and receive ongoing one-to-one support to plan for whatever your next steps may be.

An initial exploratory stage encourages students to explore a wide range of practical and conceptual approaches, with workshops in Printmaking, Photoshop and 3D, Textile and Construction skills, life drawing and contextual studies lectures.

You will have access to your own studio space throughout the year, within a community of like-minded creatives. Here you will get to select a pathway you want to pursue in further depth through specialist projects and an extended Final Major Project where you get to showcase what you’ve learned in a public exhibition and publication.

Entry requirements

1 A Level at C or above or equivalent Level 3 qualification
5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, including English and maths
Older students who have been out of education for some time may be considered on an individual basis if they have life/employment experience that we consider relevant

Please note that entry requirements and course offer can be subject to change at any time.

What will I achieve?

Upon successful completion of this course you will receive a Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

What will I learn?

Diagnostic investigation into creative practice
Developing specialist practice
Consolidating practice

How is the course taught?

Studio based practical work
Individual and group work
One-to-one support
Tutorials
Presentation and showcasing of work

How am I assessed?

Project work

Work experience opportunities

Our students engage with creative industries throughout the year. You will be asked to work on projects outside of Carlisle College to provide you with real world experience of what it means to be a creative.

We will also help you to develop your interview and CV writing skills. We have a dedicated work experience team who can help you find and organise work placement opportunities.

English and Maths

English and maths skills in Art and Design are essential. We will support you to achieve your qualification and enhance your existing skills.

You will use maths in practice when you undertake things like perspective drawing.

You will use English when you communicate your work and produce critical writing and research.

Where can I progress?

Upon successful completion of this course you can progress onto degree courses (not necessarily in Art and Design subjects).

Students who started out on Carlisle Foundation have featured in the last twelve months in Vogue; British Fashion Council’s “50 Creatives to Watch”; Popeye Magazine (Japan) alongside the many others who are now employed as creatives. Equipped with a portfolio of your best work you will be in a position to apply for apprenticeships, internships and employment in the creative industries.

Course Costs

If you are aged 16-18 when you begin your course you are likely to be eligible for free tuition. Detailed information can be found within the financial support section.

Call us: 01228 822 700

Email us: info@carlisle.ac.uk

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Paul Taylor

Paul graduated from the Storey Institute, Lancaster with a degree in Fine Art. After moving to Cumbria in 1984 he taught at Cumbria Institute of the Arts. Paul contributed to the development of their Fine Art degree (the first degree award in Cumbria), teaching on it until 2000; Since then he specialised in his passion, Foundation Diploma. With Kate Timney he has presented three papers on the experiences of Carlisle Foundation to conferences of the International Network of Foundation Educators INFE. Alongside this Paul has worked as a practicing artist, exhibiting widely and was director of West Walls Studios from1998 to 2009. He has run public art events in Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery, The British Museum, Somerset House, The Natural History Museum and V & A, and in schools across Cumbria. In 1996 he was artist in residence at the SEAC schools in Hong Kong. From 2005-2008 he was Lead Creative Practitioner with Jan Kelsey at Petteril Bank Primary School for the Creative Partnerships initiative. Since 2009 he has been one of 19 regional Associates of the Campaign for Drawing. Since 1989 Paul has worked as a freelance illustrator, writing and illustrating cartoons and advertising for the award nominated “Animal Defenders” magazine, London; John Lewis Partnership; the Home Office; N.A.V.S; W.S.P.A; The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Informer Youth Research in London and New York; numerous marketing companies. In 2012 he designed the branding for the Lion Ark circus animal rescue project and documentary film. He has written and illustrated two books – The Dunmow Changes, based on a long-distance residency with the town of Great Dunmow in Essex, and The Many Lives of Windsor, an illustrated history of the Kings and Queens of England. His most recent illustration project is for the book The Dragon and the Hummingbird by Graham Hall in 2024 and he is currently working on poet Barbara Renell’s book 23. Paul is also the drummer for the band No Soap No Radio, whose second album, 2Birds Falling, was released in August 2024.

Wendy Oxley

Tutor for UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, specialising in Fashion

Wendy is a graduate of Central St. Martins School of Art and Design, London Institute, specialising in Womenswear, with extensive experience in the fashion industry and also costume, performance and creative art direction. Wendy has worked with numerous fashion designers including Alexander McQueen, Ghost, Elizabeth Emmanuel, Whitaker and Malem; fashion editorial for Helen Storey, fashion/ colour predictions with Nigel French, alongside running her own business for many years. Wendy's commercial practice includes: Wardrobe/stylist assistant to British video artist and music director Chris Cunningham (creator of Madonna’s -Frozen), Orange commercials; Creative art direction and lead stylist for legendary Japanese guitarist Tomaso Hotei’s (featured on the “Kill Bill” soundtrack) “Supersonic Generation” album cover and merchandise; amongst styling for other bands in industry, costume for Ian Dury and Billy Connolly. Wendy's film wardrobe experience includes: Wild West starring Dawn French and Catherine Tait (2002), Warner Brothers, “24 hrs in London” (2000) with Sarah Stockbridge; the BBC; Baby Cow productions for Channel 4 – “Human Remains” (2000) starring Rob Brydon, Julia Davis and Ruth Jones - with the costume team winning the Royal Television Society (RTS) award for best costume. Theatre experience includes single-handedly sewing 16 outfits for Ballet Rambert’s 'Cheese' at Sadlers Wells in 2001.