Craft Practices
The Master of Fine Art (MFA) Craft Practices at West Dean College is a two-year full-time masters course designed to support you to further advance your practical, theoretical and professional skills, through an emphasis on specialist studio practice. You are likely to already have a well-developed craft practice but want to spend a further period of time specialising and refining your core concerns and creative ambitions.
Our MFA Craft Practices focusses on the making of objects or artworks using traditional and contemporary craft techniques, materials, and processes. It combines the skills and knowledge of traditional crafts with contemporary design principles and artistic expression.
Craft Practices encompass a wide range of material knowledge, including ceramics, woodworking, metalworking, textiles, willow, paper, as well as inter and cross-disciplinary practices. Craft often involves the use of both traditional and innovative materials and techniques, such as recycled or found objects and digital fabrication in the creation of unique and original works.
Craft Practices often reflects broader cultural context, addressing social, environmental, ethnographic, and political issues. Makers may explore themes such as sustainability, identity, consumerism, or the preservation of traditional craft practices through their work.
One of the distinguishing features of contemporary craftmaking is the emphasis on individual craftsmanship and the artist's personal voice and expression. Artists and artisans working in this field often push the boundaries of accepted techniques, experimenting with new techniques, forms, styles, and ideas. They may incorporate elements of abstraction, conceptualism, or other contemporary art movements into their work, or research ancient lost-making methods, resulting in objects that may be both functional and visually compelling.
On this programme you will be encouraged to explore interdisciplinary practices, as well as those focused on a single discipline area such as furniture, clock making, musical instruments, tapestry, bookmaking, small and large scale metals and ceramics. You will benefit from sustained periods of studio-based activity, alongside developing your critical reflection towards a dissertation in the second year.
Learning environment
You can expect
Interdisciplinary study
Students are encouraged to collaborate with other College departments, particularly the full-time programmes in Fine Art and the School of Conservation, making the most of the wide range of specialist knowledge, materials and equipment that is available.
You will have access to our specialist workshops, 8.30am-9pm, 7 days a week*. Collaboration with other craft, art, design and conservation practice specialisms makes for a uniquely enriched learning environment.
Facilities include:
The on-site Art and Conservation Library puts thousands of specialist books and journals within your reach, and you can access specialist databases in the IT suite.
Access to short courses
Students can access over 700+ short courses to develop particular skills and techniques. If places are available at weekends during term, students are encouraged to attend free of charge (there may be a charge for specific material or model fees) or can book in advance at a reduced rate.
House, Grounds, Collection and Archive
The House and Estate offer ambitious exhibition opportunities and unique research material, and students can submit site-specific proposals throughout the year. The Edward James Collection is an outstanding resource, giving students access to significant works of art and historical objects.
West Dean Tapestry Studio
One of the world's leading producers of hand-woven tapestry, students have close contact with the expertise of Master Weavers and designers and access to the studio's Dye Rooms, a specialist facility for the dyeing of yarn. Find out more about the professional Tapestry Studio.
Each year students stage a series of public exhibitions, including pop-up exhibitions, an annual fundraising exhibition and the celebrated Summer Shows that are held at the College and one other location. Through these, students develop skills in the requirements of exhibition management, such as production, installation and marketing.
As well as being encouraged to exhibit externally, both locally and nationally, during their studies, students have the unique opportunity to propose installations within West Dean House and West Dean Gardens. Project proposals are encouraged to reflect the rich heritage of West Dean and the legacy of College founder Edward James.
The Artist-in-Residence programme sees a series of professional artists and crafts people living and working onsite, amongst the students. They enrich the creative learning environment by offering tutorial sessions with students as well as public presentations on the work produced during the residency and their wider practice.
2025/26 Course Fees - UK & International Students
Lunch, accommodation and other living expenses are additional. Find out more
A £250 course fee and £200 accommodation deposit (if residential) is required to secure your place. Details will be provided to you in your offer. Fees are billed termly in advance. Please see the Terms and Conditions for further information.
We may routinely increase our course fees from year to year for one-year courses as well as courses lasting two or more years and may review and change such course fees without notice.
Funding
You may be eligible to apply for a Student Loan to cover course fees and/or maintenance; more information can be found on the Government Student Finance website.
Scholarships and Bursaries are also available based on individual need.
The following qualifications will be considered for entry on to the MFA programme:
Do you need help creating a portfolio to apply for one of our courses? Read our portfolio advice to learn about the general requirements, what we look for in a good portfolio, and what it should reflect.
Applications for this course can be made by submitting a completed application form and emailing it to: [email protected].
Need more information? Have a question? Speak to our course advisors
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 01243 818 300 and select option 1
Commendations from the University of Sussex include:
"The high quality student experience and strength of student representation within the College."
"The changes to units so they draw on and make use of specific collections within the archive."
"The linking of theory and practice, and delivery of theory by studio technicians."
Tim Bolton is an Artist, Educator. He is currently Head of the School of Arts at West Dean College having previously been Head of Programmes at Dartington and prior to that Vice Principal at Arts University Plymouth. Tim’s research interests are split between understanding and developing creative pedagogy and supporting endangered craft skills, nationally and internationally.
Subject Leader - Musical Instruments
Nick makes instruments that are inspired by the Viennese guitars of the early and mid-nineteenth century, including those with extra bass strings, and by mid-twentieth-century North American guitars. He is currently Subject Leader for the FdA Historic Craft Practices - Musical Instruments.
Subject Tutor - FdA Musical Instruments
Arnaud Giral completed his violin making studies at the Newark School of Violin Making in 2004. He then moved to Montpellier where he focused on viols and baroque violin making. His dedicated approach to historical instruments and his attention to gut strings has led him to work for numerous specialist musicians and renowned early music ensembles.
Master Craftsman Tutor
Shem Mackey is a founder member of the British Violin Making Association (BVMA) and founder editor of its newsletter. His research into instrument construction has been published in The Strad, Early Music and various publications of the BVMA and Viola da Gamba Society.
Subject Leader, Furniture (and Related objects)
Daniel designs and makes furniture to commission inspired by the principles of the arts and crafts movement which had a profound influence whilst serving his apprenticeship at the Edward Barnsley Workshop in Hampshire. He has an affinity for using hand tools and how they creatively contribute to the making process.
Subject Tutor
Phil is a BAFRA accredited conservator/restorer based in Buckinghamshire. He has twenty years experience in private practice running a small business providing a professional conservation/restoration service.
Subject Tutor, Clocks (and Related Objects)
Tim Hughes MBHI, clock maker, trained at West Dean College and works as a clockmaker and scientific instrument restorer, and as external consultant at Bellmans Auctioneers. He has received several awards, including the Trustees' Prize while at West Dean College and a QEST Scholarship.
Subject Leader, Conservation Studies specialising in Metalwork
Kate's background includes practicing as a solicitor before making a career change to train as a blacksmith and specialist Metals Conservator. She earned an MA in Conservation Studies from West Dean, following which she founded a small business specializing in the conservation of forged and architectural metalwork.
Subject Tutor - Tapestry, Fine Art
Studio Leader - West Dean Tapestry Studio
Philip Sanderson is Leader of the Professional Tapestry Studio and a Subject Tutor on the MFA in Fine Art. He is also the Tutor for the Tapestry Foundation Diploma and a short course tutor. During his time at West Dean Philip has translated the work of a number of artists into large-scale tapestries including Marta Rogoyska, John Hubbard, Tracy Emin, and Eva Rothschild.
For the past 18 years, Joe has honed his skills as a traditional craftsperson, creating exquisite bespoke furniture pieces. His work has received the prestigious Guild Mark Award and has featured at esteemed events like Masterpiece London.
Short course tutor Dan Lobb recently visited The Regis School to deliver Sculpture in the Landscape workshops to Years 9 and 10 as part of their Super Curricular day. Pupils were off-timetable for the day, participating in creative activities they wouldn’t normally have the chance to do. In his introduction, Dan explained that this session was about using materials found naturall...
By Jo Boddy, Foundation Diploma in Art and Design alumna 2021
West Dean College of Arts and Conservation recently welcomed 30 budding Year 10 artists from St Philip Howard Catholic School for a life drawing lesson delivered by artist and tutor, Chris Gilvan-Cartwright.
As well as learning new techniques with paints and charcoal and experiencing the freedom of large scale drawing, pupils commented on how they enjoyed taking risks and being brave ...
By Tiffany Robinson, Programme Coordinator and Tutor - Foundation Diploma Art and Design & Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design
As the long summer days begin to recede comes the autumn light that gives rich intensity at the start or end of the day, I have put together tips focusing on experiencing the light, and the land to make more visceral responses in...
By Finn Banwell, Foundation Degree Arts - Metalwork student I first became interested in metalwork when I visited a Japanese silversmith’s workshop. Whilst exploring Kyoto, I found “Artsmith”, a local shop selling a variety of craft pieces and very detailed, intricate examples of metalwork. Also, in this shop, was a workshop, where the Craftsman and owner of ...
Over lockdown, Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (FDAD) alumna Sue Cooper's colourful puppet characters made quite a stir on Instagram and were enjoyed 'live' on the roof of a barge on the Thames Path; with their humorous and heart-warming stories, bringing joy to her local community and challenging stereotypes around ageing. Here Sue tells us more about her latest project ...
The Sketchbook Project is brought to you by the Short Course programming team at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation. It is designed to bring you regular inspiration from the Gardens which can be used to draw, paint, stitch or print using the colours, textures and shapes from the images in your work whilst at home. Join the conversation and share your creative responses on ...
By Vanessa McGlone, Foundation Diploma in Art and Design student As the peak of the pandemic recedes, I am reflecting on the last few months and how they have affected my artistic life. Being one of the fortunate ones not to be directly affected by the Covid illness, the past few months proved to me an opportunity for intense creativity and experimentation. Before the UK was in lockdown, ...
2019 Fine Art alumna, Emma Straw is currently working with the West Dean Tapestry Studio to realise a new tapestry translated from one of Edward James’s artworks. The Empress of the Insects at her Midsummer Night’s Ball was created by James in 1983, the year before his death at 77. The ‘rorschach test’ inspired watercolour and ink drawing depicts a three-faced cr...
As we reach the end of 2019, Alison Baxter, Head of School of Arts, reflects on some of the School's highlights from the year.
1) Artist residencies
Earlier in 2019, we announced an International Open Call for applications to our Artist-In-Residence programme. Highlights from 2019’s intake include Renee So – who’s new exhibition at the De La Warr Pavili...