Since 2010, Bonas MacFarlane Arts has provided unrivalled expertise on art and design education for students and parents around the world. From illuminating the creative spark in younger children, to guiding students applying to and studying at world famous institutions, our unique approach to mentoring and tuition has brought excellent results throughout 2024/25. We have supported extra-curricular activities, IB, GCSE and A-Level coursework, applications for art scholarships, foundation, BA, PGDip and MA courses, and mentored students through every level of study to gain outstanding offers and grades.
Subject areas covered included fashion, fine art, architecture, film, games design, fashion journalism, illustration, product design and graphic design, and the 11 clients who made university applications for entry in 2025 all gained first choice offers. The Royal College of Art, ranked the number one university for art and design internationally, once again featured among these, as did equally competitive institutions in the UK, US and Europe including CSM (Central Saint Martins), LCF (London College of Fashion), Glasgow School of Art, UCL (University College London), Kingston University and The AA (Architectural Association). I was particularly proud of a Fine Art offer from the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art at UCL – one of the best BA Fine Art course anywhere – for a client who, before working with us, had gained limited offers from much lower quality courses.
Another client, who originally came to us when she was struggling during the early stages of her Fashion BA at Kingston, gained multiple postgraduate offers including MA Fashion at The Royal College of Art. It is always rewarding to help clients explore areas of design not covered by the school curriculum – for example, a current client based in France worked with us over the past 2 years, including visits to London to work in our tutor’s studios, to nurture her passion for fashion and textiles, culminating in an offer from the UAL Foundation Diploma / Fashion and Textiles pathway – the first step towards a place on one of UAL’s famous fashion degree courses at CSM or LCF. Summer intensive portfolio sessions also helped another client, who during her visits made two films with one of our specialist tutors, learning how to script, shoot and edit, which lead to offers from UAL, The Met Film School, The London Film Academy and Goldsmiths University.
As always, the key to these successes is our distinctive, tailored approach to portfolio building, which ensures the shortcomings of a generalised, impersonal, curriculum ticking method are overcome, and that submissions reflect the detail, depth and breadth of interest, exploration and commitment leading institutions are looking for.
Feedback from these clients included:
“I want to extend my deepest thanks to you. Your professional mentoring and support over the past year has meant a great deal to me. I truly cannot imagine how I would have connected with the RCA, or completed my studies so smoothly, without your efficient and high-quality mentoring. Thanks to your support, I’ve made significant progress, even breakthroughs, in my artistic journey. It has been a real pleasure working with you. You are a highly trustworthy and knowledgeable mentor, and I’ve been particularly impressed by your organised, precise, and efficient approach to work. Wishing you continued success in everything ahead, and hoping I can have your mentoring again in the near future.”
“Hello Darren. We too thank you for a wonderful and fruitful time spent working together. We are also most grateful for the fine results you have helped us achieve.”
“Thanks for having prompted X’s skills and allowing her, with your guide, to get the offer from UAL that she wanted. A talent needs the right professional guide.”
“Just got a response from Slade!!!! I’m very pleased and so are my parents this is great news. Thank you sooooooooo much!”
“Thanks for all your fabulous support and hard work with X which has clearly paid off. You certainly do manage to get the best out all your pupils.”
Exceptional support was provided by our team of expert tutors, themselves graduates and current employees of target institutions, bringing educational and professional insight and experience to the process. We continue to enjoy success with mentoring clients into the early stages of their career, including working on self-promotion strategies and job applications. I recently heard back from a previous client who I worked with in this capacity, to say that she is now a partner in the design firm I helped her apply to!
We are already receiving new enquiries for entry 2026 and beyond, and as we sign off on the successful completion of several client projects, I am already enjoying the early stages of intrigue, excavations and revelations that emerge through the consultation phase. While art and design education continues to show the strain of government policy, funding issues, oversubscribed courses, short-term contracts and a lack appreciation for the financial, social and personal value of art education, BM Arts continues to fill the gaps, top-up and enhance the imaginative and inspired, and to provide passionate, dedicated and clear-sighted counsel for the next generation of artistic visionaries.
Words by Darren Marshall, Head of Art at Bonas MacFarlane.