Build a Portfolio That Reflects Who You Are.

Personalised art, design and architecture portfolio mentorship for students applying to leading creative universities worldwide.

Led by Dan Hickey, international art educator and experienced IB Visual Arts Examiner, Dan Studios helps students develop original ideas, strengthen their creative skills and build thoughtful, individual portfolios.

From discovering your artistic voice to developing projects, curating your work and preparing university applications, receive expert guidance at every stage.

Book Your Free Portfolio Review
Explore Our Mentorship Programmes
A man with brown hair and a beard, wearing a light-colored button-up shirt, standing in a room with shelves and art supplies behind him.
Close-up of a stylized letter 'D' with a white pencil icon and blue tip.

“Loving art, being enthusiastic and passionate came from Dan.”
- Cherry - Former Student

For high-school students (age 14–19) preparing portfolios for top art, design, and architecture schools worldwide.

10 +

Years of Experience

IB

Visual Art Examiner

Head of Art

UWCSEA East

Portfolio Consultant

Founder Dan Studios

A Strong Portfolio Is More Than a Collection of Artwork.

Leading art, design and architecture universities want to understand how students think, explore ideas, experiment and develop their own creative voice.

At Dan Studios, I help students move beyond individual artworks to create thoughtful, cohesive portfolios that demonstrate:

  • Creative identity: A distinctive personal voice and sense of direction.

  • Technical development: Confidence, experimentation and refinement across creative disciplines.

  • Critical thinking: Meaningful research, original ideas and sustained creative investigation.

  • Purposeful presentation: A carefully curated portfolio that communicates each student's strengths and ambitions.

The goal is to develop both the student and their portfolio.

Student Case Study

Successful student artwork from Dan Studios accepted to RISD and Parsons.

Henry K.

Student Case Study

Henry - "At the heart of it all, there was Dan. He listens more than he talks, and that made all the difference. He taught me not just art, but how to create art with honesty and humility. "

Logo for California College of the Arts with stylized letters CC and a number 7 in teal, and the college's name below
Hongik University emblem featuring interlocking hands around a central shield with Korean and English text, date 1946.
Logo of School of Visual Arts featuring a red, abstract, flower-like design above the text.
Seal of Kyungpook National University featuring the university name, founding year 1966, and colorful design elements.

For more Case Studies & Portfolio tips

Portfolio Tips
A man with long hair tied back, beard, wearing a blue shirt and brown apron, working with a machine in a workshop or studio.

Why work with Dan

I'm Dan Hickey, founder of Dan Studios, an international art educator and portfolio mentor with over a decade of experience supporting young artists and designers.

As Head of Art at UWCSEA East in Singapore and an experienced IB Visual Arts Examiner, I bring a deep understanding of creative education, portfolio assessment and the skills students need to succeed. Throughout my career, I've guided students in developing their artistic abilities and preparing portfolios for leading art, design and architecture universities around the world.

My approach goes beyond simply preparing students for university admission. I work closely with each student to develop their creative confidence, strengthen their technical skills and establish an individual artistic voice. From initial ideas and experimentation to resolved outcomes, portfolio curation and applications, I provide personalised guidance at every stage of their creative journey.

My goal is not simply to help students gain admission to leading universities, but to help them become confident, independent and thoughtful creative practitioners.

Book your Free Portfolio Review

Students mentored by Dan have received offers from:

California College of the Arts logo, featuring the acronym 'CCA' in teal and the full name below in black text.
Pratt logo on a yellow background
University of the Arts London logo with text
Seal of Rhode Island School of Design with text and decorative elements
Logo of The New School Parsons in black and red text.
Logo of the School of Visual Arts featuring an abstract red floral design above the text.
The University of Cambridge crest with a shield featuring lions and a cross, and the text 'University of Cambridge' beneath it.
SAIC logo with text 'School of the Art Institute of Chicago'

How it Works

  1. Book your session
    Choose a time that suits you and complete a short intake form.

  2. Portfolio review & discussion
    We review current work, goals, and application context together.

  3. Clear guidance & next steps
    You leave with practical direction and a clearer path forward.

No sales pressure. No generic advice. Just expert, honest feedback.

Book your Free Portfolio Review

Choose the right portfolio support, based on you

  • Free Review

  • Then choose either Online Course or Mentorship

  • Work toward top school offers

Start with a Free Portfolio Review

Online Course

Best if you want structure + independence.

A young man with glasses smiling at a computer screen in a dimly lit room.
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Guidance & Mentorship

Best if you want accountability and high-stakes feedback.

Young woman wearing headphones working at a computer during a group class or workshop, with other participants visible in the background.
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Trusted by students admitted to RISD, Parsons, UAL, CCA and more.

The Dan Studios Framework

Every Dan Studios programme follows a structured approach to developing creative confidence, individual projects and exceptional portfolios.

Define

Discover your creative interests, research potential pathways and establish a clear portfolio direction

Design

Build technical skills, explore ideas, experiment and develop meaningful personal projects.

Deliver

Refine and curate your portfolio, articulate your ideas and prepare confidently for applications.

Ready for honest, expert portfolio guidance?

If you would like to book a consultation, ask a question about our services or talk to Dan, then fill in this form and we will attend to your request promptly.