Scenic Painting for Stage and Screen BA (Hons)

About the course

Studying on the Scenic Painting for Stage and Screen specialism of the BA (Hons) Theatre Practice degree course, you will:

• Undertake realisation of production designs to professional standards
• Learn to interpret set designs – period or modern, abstract or representational
• Develop a high-level of technical competence and skills in research and interpretation

Scenic Artists are responsible for painting backdrops and set pieces for theatre, film, television and other modes of display.

The role of scenic artist requires excellent artistic skills, combined with the ability to work independently, or as part of a team, accurately and to deadlines, meeting design specifications agreed with the set designer or art director. On the Scenic Art specialism you will gain experience of working in a wide range of materials, textures, scenic finishes and effects enabling you to interpret the design to the level of finish expected by contemporary audiences.

Develop skills

You will gain experience of working in a wide range of materials, textures, scenic finishes and effects enabling you to interpret the design to the level of finish expected by contemporary audiences. You will develop skills in research, analysis and interpretation, working on both large and small-scale elements on a variety of surfaces and materials. You will learn techniques such as marbling, wood graining, lettering, spray gun and texturing, as well as gaining a good understanding of art history, period styles and architecture.

Work on our public productions

There will be the opportunity for you to develop excellent and comprehensive artistic and scenic skills as part of a scenic art team on public productions, working closely with students of other theatre disciplines, to contribute to the overall understanding of performance and theatre production.

The training will principally be in theatre, but these skills are widely transferable to different environments, including television, film, trade shows and major live events.

As the course progresses and your skills develop, your level of responsibility and involvement will increase. The project work that is chosen is negotiated to fit with the area(s) of the industry in which you are most keen to make your career.