Saturday Art & Design Portfolio Builder (16-18 years)

🎨 Saturday Art & Design Portfolio Builder Course
For Aspiring Art & Design Students | Ages 16–18
Starts Autumn 2025 | Prepare for University Applications in January 2026
Are you applying for an art or design course at university? Want to elevate your portfolio with hands-on, creative, and sustainable work? Join our Saturday Portfolio Builder Course — a three-session programme designed to help you craft a compelling, university-ready portfolio using expressive, experimental, and digital techniques.
Held at Cardiff School of Art & Design, a vibrant art school with over 150 years of creative heritage, this course gives you access to professional workshops, expert tutors, and a supportive environment where your ideas can thrive.
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🖼️ Session 1: Sustainable Printmaking
Discover beauty in the disregarded.
Using recycled Tetra Pak and water-based inks, students will create textured prints inspired by rusty, discarded objects. Learn to:
•    Use etching tools to create expressive marks
•    Ink up plates with varied techniques
•    Draw from prints to explore texture and line
•    Embrace sustainability by working with waste materials
After you've finished Printmaking guidance will be available on options for progression into further education. 
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🌿 Session 2: Natural Ink Making & Botanical Drawing
Create with nature, from nature.
Explore the ancient art of ink making using plant materials and found objects. Students will:
•    Make natural inks and brushes from organic materials
•    Draw botanical still life or work in our dye and fibre garden
•    Experiment with expressive mark making
•    Create a fold-out book of ink studies
•    Learn historical ink-making processes
•    Take home recipes and tools for continued exploration
•    Collaborate in a group mark-making session
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🖥️ Session 3: Introduction to 3D CAD
Design digitally, think three-dimensionally.
Led by Craig Pymble, this session introduces students to the fundamentals of 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Learn to:
•    Create 2D sketches with proper dimensioning and constraints
•    Use core 3D tools to build solid bodies
•    Understand parts and assemblies
•    Modify designs using common CAD tools
•    Generate technical drawings efficiently
This session is ideal for students interested in product design, architecture, or any discipline where digital prototyping is key.

At the end of this final session, we will have an experienced member of staff on hand to conduct a portfolio review and provide advice adn tips on tailoring your portfolio ready for interview, including high-quality ways to example your work. 
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👩‍🏫 Meet the Tutors
Sian Lester
A freelance artist, designer, and educator with over 25 years in the creative industries, Sian has guided students through portfolio preparation for over a decade. Her sessions are engaging, supportive, and tailored to help you shine in your university applications.
Craig Pymble
Craig is the Technician Demonstrator managing the Soft Modelling workshop at CSAD. With over 20 years at Cardiff Met, he brings deep expertise in model making, CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and prototyping. Craig supports students across disciplines in realising their ideas through both traditional and digital methods.
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📅 Course Details
•    When: Saturdays
10am – 1pm on 15th November 
10am - 12pm on 22nd November
10am - 1pm on 29th November 
•    Who: Students aged 16–18 applying to university January 2026 onward
•    Where: Cardiff School of Art and Design, Llandaff Campus, Western Ave.
•    Cost: £95 for all 3 sessions
•    Materials Provided: All essential materials included 
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🎓 Why Join?
•    Build a diverse and creative portfolio
•    Learn sustainable, expressive, and digital techniques
•    Gain confidence in your artistic voice
•    Receive expert guidance from experienced educators 
•    Connect with like-minded peers preparing for university