Art 2026 personal statement guide

Think of your personal statement as a written accompaniment to your portfolio and performance at interview. Tutors would like to know about you, your inspirations, your aspirations, and in particular what’s unique about your practice. Whether you want to be the next Banksy, Tracey Emin or Jean-Michel Basquiat, fine art admissions tutor at Goldsmiths, Alison Jones, is looking for 'interesting individuals who have a passion for art and a commitment to developing themselves as artists’.

General advice about writing your personal statement

What do admissions staff at universities and colleges want to see?

Guidance and examples you can use

Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This is your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions. 

Examples:

• What interests you about this subject, and is there a particular area of art you want to focus on, like digital or virtual art? How does your portfolio work support that ambition?
• Have you been inspired by a particular artist or designer you follow, or whose work you’ve been to see? What is it about their work you admire, and how has it informed your own?
• What have you learned through reading or listening to podcasts like Talk Art or The Great Women Artists that you’d like to develop further on this course?
• Mention where you might like to take this subject as a career, whether you want to become a book or games illustrator, a curator, or develop your own form of physical art.

Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject? 

This is your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area.

Examples:

• Can you highlight any projects or coursework you’ve done – whether a piece of textiles or a study of a contemporary artist –relevant to your chosen course? Describe what you learned from carrying out that piece of work.
• Showcase your creative thinking and originality. Think about what you’ve done differently, whether that’s using an unusual medium or subverting a genre somehow. You could reference something you’re showcasing in your portfolio. 
• David Baldry is fine art course leader at University Campus Suffolk. He adds: 'We want to know how you respond to the world creatively, so talk about your experiences or projects you’ve developed independently’. Have you been involved in any exhibitions or done any voluntary work that’s further developed your understanding of your art or that of others? 
• Talk about skills you’ve gained from studying art (or other subjects) already, such as independent thought, critical thinking or challenging perceptions. 

Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

This is your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education, or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course. This section is likely to be highly personal to you and anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it.

Examples:

• What part-time jobs have you done and what transferable skills did you pick up, such as time management, coping under pressure or working independently? How will they help you whilst studying art? 
• What hobbies do you enjoy and what do they say about you? They may relate to art, for example designing a poster for a local event, or they may show other attributes such as perseverance when completing a project, whether on Minecraft or when learning a musical instrument. 
• What personal experiences have you had which might suit you to a subject like art? Perhaps you’ve faced a personal challenge you were later able to express or process through your drawing? Or maybe you moved schools or countries as a child, which enabled you to see and reflect different cultures.
• Think of when you’ve originated ideas, such as incorporating your old Barbies or baby dolls into a piece of art, or designing and building a hedgehog home in your garden. Anything unique is good!

How to set yourself apart

The key to setting yourself apart in your application is to remember how important the ‘personal’ bit is to your personal statement. What makes you, you? Admissions tutors advise against including cliched quotes (as you won’t be the only one doing that!). Instead, try and be original – what do you do with your time that makes you unique? Whether that’s designing and printing your own tote bags, practising digital painting techniques, or watching animated films.

Martin Conreen, design admissions tutor at Goldsmiths, University of London, feels some applicants waste too much space on non-relevant factors like their sporting achievements. Martin wants to hear who your influences are, why they inspire you, and 'how their work has resonance with your own, or with your own ideas’.
 

Some more tips to consider 

1. Knowledge of the fine arts: Talk about artists you admire and critique their work.
2. Ability to take criticism: Think of times when you’ve received feedback and how it improved your art, or any form of work, inside or outside school. 
3. Examples of other relevant skills: Use part-time jobs or studying for exams as examples of how you’ve effectively managed your own time, built your communication skills, design skills or used your initiative. 
4. Attention to detail: What schoolwork, hobbies or interests do you have – such as crochet, food tech or coding – that require attention to detail? 
5. Research the course: Why do you want to study art, what specific aspects of the course interest you or which art discipline do you want to focus on, how does it relate to your academic studies, and what additional reading or other activities have led you to apply?