Free GCSE and A Level Art resources
Guidance for every stage of an Art project
These free GCSE and A Level Art resources cover the different stages of developing a successful Art and Design project. They include advice about selecting a starting point, collecting first-hand sources, investigating artists, experimenting with materials, recording observations and refining ideas towards a personal response.
You will also find clear explanations of Assessment Objectives AO1, AO2, AO3 and AO4. The resources are designed to help you understand how research, experimentation, recording and presentation should connect across a project. They should not be treated as four unrelated sections or as a formula that guarantees a particular grade.
Free GCSE and A Level Art resources are added regularly
New free Art resources are added regularly, including project starting points, sketchbook guidance, artist-research advice, controlled-test preparation and ideas for Fine Art, Photography and Graphic Communication. Return to this page to discover recently published articles and fresh approaches that you can adapt to your own interests.
Free GCSE and A Level Art resources. Each resource is intended to encourage independent thinking rather than copying. Begin with the suggested idea, artist or process, but then collect your own photographs, drawings, observations and experiments. Ask what you want your work to communicate and allow your decisions to change as you discover more.
Choose guidance suited to your course
Visit the GCSE Art guidance section for help with coursework, sketchbooks, the Assessment Objectives and controlled-test preparation. Students completing a more sustained investigation can explore the A Level Art guidance section.
Always check the particular requirements of your course with your teacher and examination board. You can consult the official AQA Art and Design qualification information as one example, while the Tate Art Terms guide is a useful external resource for researching styles, movements and processes.
Explore the latest free GCSE and A Level Art resources below, or return to the Portfolio to A Star homepage to find further course guidance and portfolio support.
Surrealist Art: How to Start a GCSE or A Level Art Project
Surrealist art is a brilliant starting point when you want an art project to move beyond straightforward[…]
Architectural Forms: How to Start a GCSE or A Level Art Project
Architecture is one of the richest starting points available to an art student. It surrounds you every[…]
Natural Forms in Art: How to Start a GCSE or A Level Project
Natural forms can give you far more than a collection of attractive objects to draw. A curled[…]
Harvard Bibliography for A Level Art: A Student Guide
A practical student guide to building an accurate Harvard bibliography for the A Level Art written component,[…]