Course overview
Foundation year Work placement
Concept Art
Hear more from our concept art teaching team about why you should consider studying at Teesside University.
Concept art focuses on the pre-production process of a visual project. Your role as a concept artist is to visualise the look of characters, creatures, props, environments, and everything else to help a production team create a rich and exciting world.
Concept art can take many forms, and on the course, we explore these through a variety of creative briefs:
Pre-Production
Challenge yourself to create art that follows a brief, used in all types of visual media, from games and animation to advertising and illustration.
Narrative and Storytelling
Develop your inner storyteller by creating artwork that captures a rich and impactful story, seen through storyboards for filmmaking and panels for comic books.
Production Art
Capture an audience’s attention through beautifully crafted artwork, creating high-quality visuals for book illustration, splash screens, and board games.
Your time on the course will be split between learning traditional drawing techniques through practical workshops and developing your industry-relevant skills through practice in digital and 3D tools, such as Adobe Photoshop and Blender.
We are Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus, giving you access to the suite of Adobe Creative Cloud tools and resources to help you develop your digital skills.
An optional work placement year is also included, at no extra cost.
Want to learn more?
Connect with us and join our lecturer-led Instagram to see work from our students and teaching staff, and some of the events and facilities we offer @tu.conceptart.
Top reasons to study concept art with us:
- Taught by professional artists: learn from practising concept artists who have worked on a variety of art projects for clients such as Sega, Double Eleven, Archvillain Games, Sony, Formula 1, Hasbro, Activision, NetEase, Square Enix, Holovis International, Yamination Studios, Shanghai Media Group, Rebellion and Ubisoft.
- International acclaim: ranked 20th in the world in the Animation Career Review International Animation School Rankings 2025. (Top 50 International Animation Colleges – formal degree. 207 colleges considered). (tees.ac.uk/source).
- Industry links: take part in Animex, our annual international animation and games festival featuring experts from Rockstar, Pixar, Disney and Sony.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
You are guided through various concept art tasks and encouraged to develop an effective working practice. The unique challenges faced by a concept artist are identified and explored.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for games, animation, and product design (and more).
Develop a Workflow
You explore the various types of tasks often faced by concept artists, such as character, vehicle, prop and environment design and produce artwork fitting for the intended industry.
Idea Generation
You focus on the generation of original ideas and develop skills in the areas of thumbnailing, iteration and presentation.
Problem Solving
You develop your skills in adapting to different briefs and ways of working, all core skills for a concept artist.
This is a 30-credit module.
Develop your visual perception and drawing skills, which are essential for a productive artist to communicate ideas effectively, swiftly and efficiently. Drawing exercises will help develop your observational drawing abilities, allowing you to build on your artistic skills.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for animation, comics, and illustration (and more).
Figure Drawing
Practice various elements of figure drawing including anatomy, pose, lighting and form.
Observational Drawing
Practice construction skills such as perspective and composition, to develop your ability to re-create 3D forms into a 2D drawing.
Explore Traditional Techniques
You explore a variety of different traditional drawing tools such as charcoal, graphite and pastels and experiment with their effectiveness at capturing lighting and colour.
This is a 30-credit module.
Develop your ability to research the industry of visual arts, focusing on historical elements, and different artists and their art styles.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for comics, illustration, and animation (and more).
Research Methods
You are guided through visual research methods to help you understand how and where to find accurate sources to aid you in creating visually rich work.
Studying Artists
Through study of classic and modern artists, you explore different visual styles from throughout history and what makes them visually striking.
Develop your Style
Taking influence from artists you have researched; you will begin applying different techniques to your own work to begin developing your own unique drawing style.
This is a 30-credit module.
Introduction to Digital Image Techniques
You are introduced to digital painting and 3D modelling packages, to investigate the creative potential of digital workflows.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for games, concept design, and films, and more.
Digital Painting
You are introduced to the toolsets of a digital artist in industry relevant software and shown how you can apply lighting, colour, texture and effects to your artwork.
3D Workflows
You are introduced to 3D modelling packages and how they can aid in the construction of your artwork and efficiency of your skills.
Technical Problem Solving
You explore and research workflows used in the production of digital artwork to aid you in creating technically proficient artwork of your own.
This is a 30-credit module.
Year 2 core modules
You explore more deeply digital painting processes and ways you can incorporate various 2D and 3D skills to create accomplished digital artwork.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for games, concept design, and films, and more.
Develop your Digital Painting
You develop your digital painting skills through research and analysis of real-world reference to build your understanding of shape and form.
Combining 2D and 3D Skills
Explore 3D modelling tools and how they can be combined with 2D painting techniques to advance your abilities in creating digital conceptual art.
Developing a Reliable Workflow
Through exploration of different digital tools in both 2D and 3D, you will develop an individual workflow that allows you to create art in your own way.
This is a 30-credit module.
You work in a team to produce concept art material and create a pitch for a game, film or animation project.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for film and tv, advertising, and production (and more).
Explore a Specialism
As part of your team, you explore different specialisms within the concept art industry and how your artwork fits into the pre-production pipeline.
Creating Relevant Artwork
Explore and research existing media from film, games, and animation to aid you in producing artwork that is visually exciting for an audience.
Working as a Team
You will be introduced to the challenges and opportunities working alongside other artists can bring and experience the production of a project modelled on industry practice.
This is a 30-credit module.
Focus on your visual storytelling skills, exploring narrative through the creation of storyboards, sequential art and marketing artwork.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for film and tv, comics, and illustration (and more).
Storytelling
You will be introduced to narrative techniques such as lighting, composition, and pose that will help you tell stories through your artwork.
Analysing Existing Media
You study existing media to help you identify an appropriate methodology for adding storytelling to your visual artwork.
Industry Workflows
Explore the different visual outputs seen in industry and practice the variety of visual techniques that help convey a story clearly and effectively to an audience.
This is a 30-credit module.
Develop your skills in practice-based research by experimenting and researching the creative process.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for film and tv, games, animation (and more).
Expanding your Visual Library
You look at examples of how historical and cultural visuals from around the world have been used to create engaging characters, props, and environments to aid you in creating new, original artwork.
Effective Research Methods
Study effective research practices that will aid you in finding accurate information and reflect on how to use these materials appropriately and ethically to create your own work.
Creating New Ideas
You develop your understanding of combining multiple sources of inspiration to create new and unique designs.
This is a 30-credit module.
Optional work placement year
You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.
You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.
Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:
· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.
If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.
Final-year core modules
You develop a sense of work discipline through the development of a large-scale project. You will take on the responsibility of planning and executing an individual project in your chosen subject area, resulting in a portfolio ready project.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for any specialism of your choice!
Professional Considerations
Throughout the Concept Art project, you reflect on the associated legal, social, ethical and professional issues seen within the concept art industry and how you can ensure your work is suitable for your chosen discipline.
Independence
You define the parameters of your project, setting your own goals and continually evaluating your progress to complete an extended project, with guidance from a supervisor.
Application of Skill
The project you produce will be a culmination of the skills gained throughout the course, allowing you to develop your creativity and originality in your own specialism.
This is a 60-credit module.
You extend your abilities in creating digital artwork inspired by industry standards, and investigate and apply a variety of techniques, including the combination of 2D and 3D methodology.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for games, animation, and film and tv (and more).
Industry Inspired Briefs
You work on briefs inspired by industry projects to aid your understanding of industry standards and working practices.
Proficiency in Digital Image Making
Develop your digital painting skills through further research and practice of advanced techniques in areas such as photo manipulation, applying textures and combining of 2D and 3D skills.
Industry Workflows
Develop your workflow to produce artwork that fits the industry expectations of a concept artist.
This is a 30-credit module.
Professional Practice and Responsible use of AI in the Creative Industries
You research various career routes and develop a portfolio for a chosen specialism. With AI artwork headlining in the media, you discuss the ethics of AI generative art through critical debate on originality and intellectual property. You look at various movements and campaigns of practicing artists to illustrate how you can promote and protect your art while highlighting your unique human creativity.
Career Spotlight
Build career relevant skills for games, animation and illustration (and more).
Identifying Career Goals
Through research and analysis, you identify any strengths and weakness of your portfolio and CV and reflect on how you can push your skills towards becoming a professional artist.
Meeting Industry Standards
You explore and practice different art techniques to build up your ability to create portfolio level artwork for your chosen career.
Professional Skills
You undertake in-depth research of the industry practices for your area of interest, including the trends in technology, how responsible is the use of AI, and portfolio expectations.
This is a 30-credit module.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
Our lecturers are practising concept artists who bring a wealth of experience and industry connections. They’ve worked at studios including Double Eleven, Yamination Studios and Holovis International –for clients and projects including Legoland, Madam Tussauds and Disney.
On the course, your weekly schedule is split between:
Lectures
Covering drawing theory, discussion and debate on industry trends, and painting demonstrations.
Practical learning
Hands-on sessions focusing on developing practical skills and working on creative briefs. You receive regular and personalised one-to-one feedback on your work.
Independent time
You will be given guidance on time management, with freedom to explore personal areas of interest and apply your learning at your own pace.
Extra-curricular
Take part in concept art social events, attend dedicated drawing sessions, dive into networking experiences, sign up for training workshops for CVs and starting your own business, and benefit from bespoke guest speaker talks - previous speakers include Ian McQue, John Howe, Alex Heath, Jordan Grimmer, Sandra Duchiewicz, Ubisoft and Atomhawk.
Neurodiversity support
We understand that creativity and neurodiversity often go hand in hand, and we have wide experience in supporting students with a range of additional needs.
On the Concept Art team, our Disability Coordinator can meet you one-to-one to tailor support to your needs. You can also access help from your lecturers and tutors, the University’s Disability Service, the Student Journey Team, the Library team and other services.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to get support – we know this can take time and that you may need help straight away. Support may include flexibility with learning and coursework, regular check-ins, specialist mentoring, or practical help with organising your workload and time.
If you have questions or concerns, you can email our Disability Coordinator at k.elling@tees.ac.uk.
How you are assessed
The course is practice based, focusing on learning through doing. The majority of assessments are practical projects designed to encourage experimentation in art style and drawing technique for the range of potential careers associated with concept art.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
2026-27 entry requirements
For Clearing 2025 entry requirements, please refer to the information in the box above.
96-112 points points plus a portfolio if your Level 3 qualifications do not include a creative subject such as art, design, drawing, animation or games art/design. Your portfolio should demonstrate fundamental drawing skills, such as life drawing and observational drawing, alongside showing us your creativity. Get some hints and tips on how to prepare a portfolio
If you have gained credits at Level 4 or higher in a related subject from previous study at college or university then credit transfer towards your new course may be possible.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth using the UCAS tariff calculator. If your qualifications are not listed, contact our admissions team as we may accept alternatives.
We may also be able to help you meet the entry requirements through our Summer and Winter University modules.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements.
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country.
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
Developing your Artistic Vision
Professional concept artists require artistic and communication skills, and creativity. The course is structured to highlight, develop, and refine your unique creative style and guide you in building a workflow suitable for the industry you wish to pursue.
Graduate Destinations
Our graduates have started careers as freelance artists or gone on to work or undertake placements for studios such as Atomhawk, Sumo Digital, Jagex and Frontier Developments.
Networking Events
Our ExpoSeries of events are an opportunity for you to interact with employers. Each event is open to the public and industry guests, for you to showcase your work and skills to peers and potential future placements or employers.
Animex, our international festival of animation, concept art and games, is a fantastic opportunity to meet industry experts and experience a wide range of talks and workshops, introducing you to different careers and skills across the entertainment industry.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
Select your country:
Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
