Art Portfolio Mentorship
Build a portfolio that shows your strengths as an artist and helps you get accepted into top Fine Arts programmes.
Who is it for?
Rabbits’ Choice offers one-to-one portfolio mentorship and application support for students applying to Foundation, BA, MA and MFA Fine Art programmes in the UK, Europe and the US.
Led by artist and educator Maria Cohen, the mentorship combines portfolio development, critical feedback and application strategy — helping students develop a stronger artistic voice and present their work clearly and convincingly to admissions teams.
Our mentorship programme is suitable for:
-
students preparing Foundation or undergraduate Fine Art applications;
-
BA students applying for MA/MFA programmes;
-
international applicants navigating UK, European or US art-school applications;
-
applicants who already have substantial work but need help editing and structuring their portfolio;
-
students at an earlier stage who need to develop new projects before applying;
-
applicants preparing for Fine Art interviews.
Maria has supported over 50 students in successful applications to leading international art schools and universities. Her students have received offers from institutions including the Royal College of Art, UAL: Central Saint Martins & Camberwell, Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, Goldsmiths, Parsons School of Design , School of Visual Arts, and Pratt Institute.
Rabbits’ Choice Portfolio Mentorship Led by Maria Cohen
All new students should book an initial consultation with Maria to discuss the approach to working on your portfolio and applications, institutions you are applying for, timelines and the best package for you.
All mentorship is conducted on a one-to-one basis and is tailored to each individual student. Sessions are conducted online.
30 min
175 British pounds
1 hr
250 British pounds
5 hour mentorship package
1,150
5 x 60-minute sessions booked at your convenience
10 hour mentorship package
2,300
10 x 60 minutes sessions scheduled at your convenience
How it works
1. Initial Portfolio Review
Maria reviews your existing work, artistic interests, target programmes and application timeline.
2. Individual Strategy
Together, you identify what needs to be developed, edited or created and establish priorities for each application.
3. Portfolio Development
Through regular one-to-one sessions, Maria provides critical feedback, references, research direction and practical guidance as your portfolio develops.
4. Application Preparation
Portfolio sequencing, artist/personal statement, CV, project proposals and supporting materials are reviewed and refined.
5. Interview Preparation
For shortlisted applicants, Maria helps students articulate their practice and prepare to discuss their work confidently.
Our approach
Maria’s teaching method is highly personalised and based on each student’s individual needs. The classes are built through dialogue, critical thinking, and creative exploration, encouraging students to reflect deeply on their work while developing confidence in their artistic voice.
The teaching is grounded in research and tailored strategy. Maria helps students organise their ideas, structure projects, meet deadlines, and develop long-term approaches to sustaining an artistic practice.
Beyond technical instructions, she supports students in building confidence, refining their conceptual direction, and understanding how to present their work professionally to universities, galleries, and wider audiences.
"I don't believe in creating a 'perfect portfolio' according to a formula. My role is to help students understand what makes their work distinctive, develop it further, and communicate their ideas with confidence."
We guide students through every stage of portfolio development, including:
-
BA and MA Fine Art portfolio preparation
-
Foundation course applications
-
Artist statements and personal statements
-
Project proposals and research structure
-
Interview preparation and presentation skills
-
Dissertation and essay writing
-
Process portfolios, comparative studies, and curatorial rationale
"I applied to various universities in the UK and the USA for MA Fine Art programmes. We had four consultations with Maria; together we thoroughly analysed my motivation letter, CV and portfolio.
The feedback was really valuable, professional and detailed, we covered all the necessary points.
As a result, I became more confident as an artist and received several offers from dream universities. Without a doubt, l recommend Maria to anyone who wants to fine-tune their applications.”
"Maria is a very constructive thinker. She helps to organise the process of applying to international art institutions perfectly.
Our meetings were not just formal discussions, but an exploration of inspiring insights into my work and the European art industry. Many seemingly incomprehensible and frightening things became achievable with her support. I highly recommend her as a professional who can help you successfully enrol in the programme of your dreams. I did it!"
"Being a passionate artist and a dedicated tutor, Maria helped me build a compatible portfolio. I successfully got through the interviews and got an offer for the BA Painting degree.
Her approach was easygoing, personable, and patient. She helped me develop critical thinking through diverse references and examples, encouraging me to dig deeper to understand what and why I am doing in my practice. I am still feeling blessed to have met Maria as a mentor on my way.”
About Maria Cohen
Maria Cohen is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist based in the UK, working across painting, installation, animation, and curatorial practice. Her work explores identity and bodily autonomy through research-led, immersive, and socially engaged methodologies.
She holds a Fine Arts degree from a prestigious university in Moscow – the Moscow Surikov State Academic Institute of Fine Arts. In addition, she completed an Art History and Contemporary Art at ICA, Moscow and an MA in Fine Art Painting from Camberwell College of Arts (2021).
Her work has been exhibited internationally, including a solo presentation in Basel, Switzerland, and at institutions such as the South London Gallery and the Saatchi Gallery.
