Hope Chapman

Property development, filming coordination and modern art, Pryce Lee

Graduated in 2013

Hope applied for the BA (Hons) Fine Art course with a longing to work in the art industry. Attracted by the phenomenal up-and-coming art scene in Birmingham, she knew the Birmingham School of Art would offer the perfect environment for her to develop her passion.

"I work with a lot of high-end street art. I get to curate shows all over the world and handle the logistics, ensuring everything is managed suitably. Another strand of my job involves the buying, selling, brokering and collecting of high-end street art for one of the biggest independent collections in Europe.

"I currently work for an artist called Pryce Lee and my job has three major stages – property development, filming locations and coordination, and modern art. I handle all the bookings in one of the reclaimed warehouses which has been developed and is used by film and TV companies for photo shoots, adverts etc. A highlight was when Ed Sheeran filmed his Christmas TV advert here.

"The BA (Hons) Fine Art course offers life skills as well as a degree. If it wasn't for the Fine Art course I wouldn't be as sociable or articulate as I am now. There is so much more to the course than people think. You can tailor the course to yourself and write your own briefs.

"A favourite part of my time at the University was the building itself. There is a lot of space and you have everything you could want. You get to know a lot of people and it becomes like a family where everyone helps each other out and looks out for one another.

"My main goal for the future is to travel the world to research and curate art work.

"My key advice would be to notice the life skill behind the course and to network. Confidence is important, everyone gets nervous but chase every opportunity that comes your way and say yes to everything. You get out what you put in, so if you work hard you will get the rewards."