UK illustration, where to go?

[Smarty]

hi all

Ok well atm im 18 and living in a rather dead end industrial UK town (Grimsby, anyone know it, where the fish come from) and as of next year ill be deciding what university i want to go to and the particular course... I dream of becoming a concept artist and draw everyday for an hour or so.

After readin seedling's threads it seems to me that a degree in illustration would be best (Before this i was going to do design and branch over ala Feng Zhu) but I've no idea what Universities offer good illustration courses in the UK, or if any are particuarly well connected with the concept deisgn industry, does anyone have any good tips, or other suggestions as to what i might do?..

My tutors at college keep pushing me towards a graphic design BA at Central St.Martins (one of the respectable art uni's of UK) but i think ill just end up making billboards if i go that way. Any where in the UK will do as i see uni as a chance to get outta this town.

[Maxine Schacker]

Graphic design will not lead you into a career as a concept artist! Illustration is definitely a better route. I'm the director of Max the Mutt Animation School. May I suggest that you take a look at our website, [url]www.maxthemutt,com. Located in Toronto, Canada,we are a very unusual school. We were founded by artists and animators, with a mandate to be "available to talent" - which means we keep our tuition as low as we can while providing top quality education. Check the student gallery and the "careers" page. Good luck to you wherever you go...but make sure you fully investigate all the schools you apply to: look at the student work, check class size, and try to find a school where working professionals teach.

[Badger]

or use the search button to read this (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=65644)

That should help
-B-