About West Dean

West Dean is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence for art, design, craft, and conservation education.  The work of staff and students, frequently rooted in traditional skills, is both innovative and world leading.

Our programmes are delivered across two sites in the UK:  West Dean, the idyllic Grade II listed rural campus in the stunning South Downs near Chichester (West Sussex), and our new, prestigious Bloomsbury site in the heart of London.  These inspiring locations provide the ideal environment in which students can work across disciplines and forge exciting new collaborations. 

We are making bold and ambitious moves as an organisation with the expansion of our portfolio, the redevelopment of our estate and our strategic push on diversity and sustainability. 

About the Role

West Dean is seeking reliable and professional Life Models to work on a casual basis, supporting our Fine Art programs.  The role requires an individual to pose nude for life drawing classes, who can maintain still poses for extended periods, demonstrate physical body awareness, and provide inspiration for students in capturing the human form.

Key Responsibilities

• Pose in a range of static positions for life drawing purposes.
• Sustain poses for varying durations (from short gestures to long poses), ensuring stability and comfort.
• Collaborate with teaching staff to create dynamic and varied poses based on the needs of the session.
• Provide a professional attitude towards time-keeping, reliability, and communication with staff.
• Maintain body awareness and flexibility, adapting poses to suit different artistic styles and teaching requirements.
• Engage with students and instructors professionally, ensuring a respectful and comfortable environment.

Who we are looking for:

The ideal candidate should have previous experience as a life model, although it is not essential, but should ideally have the following skills:

• Physical Fitness & Endurance: Ability to hold various static poses for prolonged periods, showing stamina and patience.
• Body Awareness: Excellent understanding of one's own body, including flexibility and the ability to create expressive, varied poses.
• Professionalism: Reliable, punctual, and able to communicate effectively with instructors and students.
• Comfort with Nudity: The ability to pose nude or semi-nude in a professional, artistic environment without self-consciousness.
• Collaboration: Willingness to work closely with art teachers to ensure the objectives of the session are met.
• Adaptability: The flexibility to adjust poses as needed and work in different settings (e.g., indoor, outdoor, standing, sitting, or reclining)

Full details of the role are found in the Job Pack.

To Apply

If you are interested in working within a creative and supportive environment, contributing to the development of aspiring artists, we’d love to hear from you!  Please apply via our careers site: Careers at West Dean