taught by practising, internationally exhibiting artists
One-to-one portfolio mentorship and artistic direction
For foundation, BA and MA/MFA applicants who need their work to get results on a deadline. We help you build a cohesive, admissions-ready portfolio and articulate it clearly, with calm direction under pressure.
Services
Portfolio & Admissions Mentorship
Build an artistically alive, cohesive, submission-ready portfolio with clear direction. We refine selection, structure and presentation so your portfolio reads as intentional, confident and credible – and you’re ready to speak about it in interviews.
Creative Mentorship for Artists
Find a clear visual language and direction that feels genuinely your own. Through 1:1 critique, contemporary references and structured project development, you’ll create work with real weight and meaning. You leave with a practice you can carry forward.
Writing & Research Mentorship
Make your application clear and convincing to admissions: annotations, personal statements, proposals and interview answers. We build strong context through relevant artist references so your work sits credibly within contemporary practice. Writing stays in service of the work.
Reasons To Work With Us
You stop guessing what art schools want
We clarify portfolio requirements, standards and selection criteria so you make confident decisions without box-ticking.
Your work becomes coherent and intentional
We focus on selection, structure and direction so the portfolio reads as a whole, not a collection of unrelated pieces.
Your portfolio gets results when the stakes are high
We make it application-ready so it holds up in portfolio reviews, interviews and competitive selection.
You are listened to, not over-corrected
Many students come to us after feeling unheard elsewhere. Your voice stays central. We refine what you’re already making, never forcing your work into a formula.
You gain confidence without losing sensitivity
We give calm, specific direction so you keep momentum and connection to your work – even when deadlines are close.
You leave with a practice you can carry forward
The aim is not just admission. You leave with a way of working you can continue beyond applications.
Applying Soon? Get Expert Feedback Quickly
90-Minute Portfolio Review
Get expert feedback on your portfolio with clear practical guidance before you submit.
Fast-Track Portfolio Intensive
A focused, multi-session programme designed to rapidly strengthen your portfolio before submission.
International Applicants Welcome
UK/US/EU + global pathways. We tailor portfolios to each school’s format and selection process.
Neurodiversity-Aware Mentorship
ADHD/ASD-friendly support with clear structure, calm pacing, and practical next steps.
Our Mentors
Our mentors are Internationally exhibited, practising artists with proven experience navigating competitive foundation, BA and MA/MFA Fine Art admissions.
Cyrus
Artist & Filmmaker
- LONDON, UK
- ALSO Speaks: mandarin, CANTONESE
Amélie
Artist
- london, uk.
- ALSO Speaks: french
Hazel
Artist
- London and Newcastle, U.K.
Sean
Artist & Draughtsman
- LONDON, UK and Bangkok, Thailand
Enrica
Artist
- london, uk.
- ALSO Speaks: Italian
Carlotta
Artist
- London, U.K.
- ALSO Speaks: Italian
Testimonials
“My understanding of how to apply for a Fine Art master’s changed completely. I learned how to turn my ideas into strong visual compositions and secured my place at Central Saint Martins.”
Chen Gong
From Finance to MA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins
“India is beyond words amazing. If it wasn’t for her, I would never have been accepted to my dream university. I honestly wouldn’t have passed my Foundation year without her.”
Nawal
From Foundation to BA Fine Art & Art History, Goldsmiths
“What truly sets India apart is her ability to read between the lines of what I’m trying to express in my images. She’s helped me identify less effective paths and guided me toward new, more authentic directions.”
Constanza
Artist
“With India’s support, I raised my A-Level Art grade from a C to an A. She guided me through planning and completing each project with clear, professional advice while encouraging independence.”
Kiki
From C to A in A-Level Art
“India gently pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me move toward a more contemporary visual language. I feel much clearer about who I am as an artist.”
Anca Artemisia Maxim
“India has been absolutely fantastic. I leave every session feeling inspired and more confident in my work. She understood exactly what I needed for my A-Level Art and EPQ, and her guidance made a real difference.”
Polina
From A-Level Art & EPQ to University Portfolio
Read All Our Reviews
Student Results
A selection of work developed through Cadmium mentorship, across disciplines and levels of study.
Chen transitioned from a career in finance to secure a place on his first-choice MA Fine Art programme at Central Saint Martins – without a Fine Art degree or foundation.
Anca stepped beyond illustration-led work to develop a more personal and conceptually confident contemporary painting practice.
Nawal built her portfolio from scratch to secure a place on her first-choice BA Fine Art & Art History programme at Goldsmiths.
Serena transitioned from chef to fine art, gaining places at UAL Foundation and the Turps Studio Programme.
Not sure what you need yet?
FAQs
Cadmium is a premium, artist-led mentorship service for art school portfolio and admissions preparation.
We work with applicants preparing portfolios for foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate art programmes, providing bespoke one-to-one mentorship to develop a clear visual language, build a cohesive body of work, and articulate ideas confidently in portfolios, interviews and written components such as personal statements, research proposals and essays.
Cadmium also works with practising artists and career-changers who want focused creative direction and a stronger professional portfolio.
All mentorship is delivered by practising, internationally exhibiting artists.
Mentorship begins with a 60-minute consultation to understand your goals, current work, deadlines and priorities, and identify where support would have the greatest impact.
From there, we recommend the most appropriate mentorship route for your needs and, where relevant, match you with a specialist mentor. Your programme is then structured around your goals, timeline and the level of support required.
Throughout the mentorship, we review your work in depth and use focused feedback, project development and strategic guidance to strengthen your ideas and build a cohesive body of work. Where relevant, we also support portfolio selection and presentation, written statements, applications and interview preparation, so every part of your submission works together effectively.
The earlier you begin, the more time there is to develop a strong body of work and refine your application.
We typically recommend students start working with Cadmium several months before their application deadlines so that projects can evolve gradually and the portfolio can develop real depth.
However, we also work with students at later stages of the process and can help refine portfolios and applications under tight deadlines.
Yes. Many students come to Cadmium with deadlines already approaching. We focus on identifying the strongest work, strengthening the overall portfolio, and closing gaps quickly and strategically.
With focused mentorship, it’s still possible to make a significant difference on a tight timeline.
For students working within very tight deadlines, the Fast-Track Portfolio Intensive or a 90-Minute Portfolio Review can provide focused expert feedback and clear guidance on how to strengthen your portfolio before submission.
Cadmium mentorship is tailored to each artist’s goals, portfolio stage and application timeline, so programme pricing varies depending on the level and duration of support required.
We begin with a 60-minute consultation (£150) to review your current work, priorities, deadlines and goals. Following the consultation, we’ll recommend the most appropriate mentorship or support route and provide clear pricing before you decide whether to proceed.
Some artists need focused support over a shorter period, while others work with us over several months to develop a complete portfolio, application or body of work.
Our 60-minute consultation is a focused one-to-one session to discuss your current work, goals, challenges and next steps.
Depending on your needs, we can review your portfolio, artistic practice, application materials, academic writing or dissertation, discuss upcoming deadlines or target institutions, and identify the areas where support would have the greatest impact.
You’ll leave with clear priorities and practical next steps, and where appropriate, we’ll recommend the mentorship or support route best suited to your goals.
Most Cadmium mentorship takes place online via video call. Sessions are focused and detailed: we look closely at your work, make precise edits to selection and structure, and shape what to make next, so you leave each session with clear direction.
In-person sessions in London are available as an optional add-on, by arrangement, depending on availability and the nature of the work.
Yes. Cadmium regularly works with artists who are neurodivergent, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other learning differences.
Mentorship is adapted to the way each artist thinks and works. Some students benefit from clearer structure and pacing, while others work best through open exploration and discussion.
The goal is always the same: to create an environment where artists can develop their ideas with clarity and confidence.
Yes.
Cadmium works with students from the UK and internationally.
Most mentorship takes place online, so we regularly support applicants applying to art schools across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia.
No – admissions decisions are made by the institutions, so we can’t guarantee an offer.
What we can do is strengthen what you control: the quality of the work, the clarity of the portfolio edit, and how convincingly your ideas are communicated.