Experienced 11+, 7+, and 13+ Tutor | Former Lecturer at UAL and Goldsmiths | Expert in English, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Exam Preparation

I worked with India when I was applying for Fine Art after years in marketing, with a portfolio that was honestly a bit of a mess. I hadn’t made proper work since school and didn’t know what was useful, what was filler, or how to talk about any of it.

She helped me apply to Camberwell, Chelsea, Goldsmiths and Glasgow. She was very good at cutting through the panic. We edited my sketchbooks, reordered the portfolio, rewrote my statement about ten times, and practised interviews without making me sound rehearsed.

What I liked was that she didn’t give me fake confidence or try to make my work look like everyone else’s. She was direct when something wasn’t working, but always specific about why.

By the end, my work felt much clearer and much more mine. I’d definitely recommend her! Outstanding art tutor for applications and everything else!

India’s support was extremely helpful in preparing my BA Fine Art portfolio and interview. She looked at my work very carefully and helped me choose the strongest pieces for my portfolio, while also showing me how to explain the hidden ideas and layers behind my paintings more clearly.

Her guidance made me feel much more confident in presenting my practice at interview, and I am sure it helped me communicate the essence of my work properly. I was very happy to receive a place on BA Fine Art at Goldsmiths, and I am very grateful for her support. 🫶

I’ve really enjoyed working with India on my art school portfolio. She’s patient, kind and very intuitive. she quickly understood what I was trying to do with my work and helped me see how to make the portfolio stronger and more coherent.

The sessions are always encouraging, but also properly useful. India gives thoughtful, honest feedback and helps you develop your ideas without making you feel judged or overwhelmed. I felt much clearer about my projects, my application and how to talk about my work.

I’d really recommend India to anyone applying to art school who wants help with portfolio preparation, interview practice, or developing their creative direction. She’s warm, intelligent and genuinely invested in helping her students improve.

India helped me with my Fine Art portfolio when I was applying to art school and she was honestly brilliant. I was looking at UAL, Central Saint Martins, Goldsmiths and Slade, and she really helped me understand what these places are looking for.

Before working with her I had a lot of work, but I didn’t really know how to put it together or what to leave out. India helped me edit everything down, think about the order of the portfolio, show my research and development properly, and make the whole thing feel much clearer.

She also gave me really good artist references that actually related to my work, not just random names. Her feedback was direct but very encouraging, and I felt much more confident afterwards.

I’d really recommend India to anyone applying for Fine Art, Foundation or art school courses. She knows the process properly and really cares about the work. I got into my first choice btw (Slade!) so very grateful

Excellent advice and planning for assessments. Provides clear and logical pathways to organise material for art historical essays.

India has a very good insight on everything related to art school applications, literature and academia. Would highly recommend working with her

India was one of the most important people in my application process. I came to her at a point where I had work, but it didn’t feel like it was holding together properly, and I wasn’t confident in how to present it. What she helped me do wasn’t just “improve” individual pieces, but actually understand what my work was doing and how to build a portfolio that made sense as a whole.

Her feedback is very direct, but in a way that makes things clearer rather than overwhelming. She has a strong sense of what different schools are looking for, but never pushes you into making work that feels generic or forced. Instead, she helps you refine what is already there and develop it properly, which made a huge difference for me.

We also spent a lot of time on how to position the work, how to speak about it, and how to edit the portfolio depending on where I was applying. That level of attention is rare and genuinely changed how I approached the process.

I was accepted onto the MFA Fine Art at Goldsmiths, and I don’t think I would have got there in the same way without her guidance. I would strongly recommend working with her if you’re serious about your portfolio and want something that is actually coherent and well thought through, rather than just “polished.”

India is an exceptionally patient and responsible tutor. She supported me from the summer holidays through to my final A Level Art submission, and with her guidance I achieved an A*.

She helped me structure my portfolio clearly and develop a strong, coherent body of work, guiding me through how to plan, refine, and complete each project to a high standard. Her feedback was always thoughtful, constructive, and grounded in a clear understanding of what examiners are looking for, while still encouraging me to think independently and develop my own artistic voice.

Our lessons were always enjoyable, and I felt consistently supported throughout the entire process, from early ideas through to final outcomes. I am very grateful for her help and would highly recommend her to any student looking for serious portfolio development and high-level art mentorship.

I worked with India on my portfolio while applying to US art schools (including RISD and CalArts), and she was honestly a huge help. I had work already, but it wasn’t really coming together as a portfolio, and I didn’t fully understand what schools were actually looking for.

She’s very straightforward in a good way... she’ll tell you what’s working and what isn’t, but it never feels harsh or generic. It felt like she really understood my work and where I could take it, rather than trying to fit it into a formula.

We spent time refining my strongest pieces, cutting things that weren’t needed, and thinking about how everything sat together as a whole. She also helped a lot with how to talk about the work, which I was struggling with before.

I came away feeling a lot clearer and more confident about my portfolio and applications. I’d definitely recommend her if you’re serious about applying to art school.

India is a very patient and responsible tutor. She has been tutoring me from the summer holidays until now, and with her support, I achieved an A in my A Level Art.
She guided me through how to plan and complete each project, providing appropriate professional advice and constructive feedback, while encouraging me to work independently.
Our lessons were always enjoyable, and I felt well supported throughout the process. I am very grateful for her help and would highly recommend her to A Level Art students.

I came to India after feeling quite disappointed with portfolio tutoring and studio-based guidance in Asia, where I struggled to find critical depth or clear direction.

Working with India has been a completely different experience. From the very first trial session, she demonstrated an exceptional ability to read my work and identify its underlying direction. She suggested artists and references that were not generic, but highly specific and deeply relevant to my practice, which immediately helped me see my work more clearly.

Throughout our sessions, India guided me through the process of refining my portfolio with the level of rigour. Coming from a non-traditional art background and without formal art school training, I found her approach both patient and intellectually demanding in the best way. She asks precise questions, challenges assumptions, and helps articulate ideas without imposing her own voice.

Beyond portfolio preparation for applications, she has helped me develop a stronger artistic awareness and confidence in how I think, speak, and position my work. I truly feel that working with India has prepared me not only for applications, but for the mindset and critical environment of art school itself.

India provided invaluable support while I was preparing my personal statements for applications to The Courtauld and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Her guidance helped me refine my ideas and present my experiences in a clear and effective manner. Thanks to this process, I was fortunate to be accepted into both programs. I greatly appreciated her thoughtful feedback and professional approach, and I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking structured and insightful support with their applications.

India is a dedicated and inspiring tutor who consistently goes above and beyond to support her students. She has a remarkable ability to guide students through the creative process, encouraging artistic exploration while offering practical, constructive feedback.

Her support has been especially valuable in helping students strengthen and expand their portfolios in a short period of time. Through thoughtful planning and personalised guidance, India helps students not only improve the quality of their work but also develop a clearer artistic direction.

Her passion for teaching and genuine care for her students' progress make her an exceptional tutor and mentor.

My two children have attended several art sessions with India, and I couldn’t be more pleased with her approach. She is patient, highly creative, and has a wonderful ability to engage with young learners.

India respects each child’s individual ideas and gently encourages them to explore and grow. Her lessons are always imaginative and well thought out, and she adapts beautifully to the children’s personalities and learning styles. I would highly recommend her to any parent looking for a supportive and inspiring art tutor.

India is a brilliant 11+ tutor. My son isn’t the easiest to win over, especially with anything that feels like extra school, but he took to her immediately. She has this way of listening very carefully, noticing what’s underneath the surface, and adjusting the session without making a big deal of it.

She helped him with comprehension by getting him to write short stories from weird perspectives (one was from the point of view of a lamppost) and somehow that got him excited about vocabulary in a way I hadn’t seen before. She's also helped him feel calmer and more in control during practice papers, especially verbal reasoning, which used to be the section that threw him off.

India doesn’t talk down to kids. She takes them seriously, which I think they can really feel. There’s nothing generic or cookie-cutter about her sessions - she’s tuned in the whole time, and it shows. If you're looking for someone who genuinely cares and knows how to help your child grow in their own way, I honestly can't imagine someone better.

India helped me completely reshape my dissertation on post-colonial art history by giving feedback on how to structure my arguments properly. She was brilliant at pinpointing where my argument lacked clarity and gave really precise, constructive feedback on how to strengthen my analysis. Her suggestions around structure and referencing saved me hours. I also really appreciated how she encouraged me to trust my own voice. I ended up with a distinction and actually enjoyed the writing process by the end. Genuinely couldn’t have done it without her.

India is a brilliant art tutor. She’s got a rare mix of real artistic depth and a very instinctive way of knowing what each student needs. My daughter came away from every session not just with better work, but with a different energy... more confident, more curious, more herself. India doesn’t follow a formula. She notices what’s working and builds on it, and she has a knack for knowing when to step in and when to give space.

We also had her run a painting session for a group event, and it was just lovely. Relaxed and fun! Everyone came away with something they were proud of. She’s someone you remember. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her and worth every penny.

I highly recommend India as a tutor for anyone preparing for university or art school. I met her during my time at Goldsmiths, and the tutorials we had in my first and second year were some of the most valuable conversations I had as a student.

India has a rare ability to offer honest, insightful feedback without ever making it feel prescriptive. She listens closely and responds in a way that sharpens your thinking. Even after our sessions ended, her comments stayed with me and helped shape the direction of my work over time. I often found myself returning to those ideas when developing new pieces or reflecting on what my practice needed.

What stood out to me was how seriously she took my work, even when I was still figuring it out. She was able to articulate things I was only just starting to sense in my process. That kind of engagement is hard to find. It made me more confident and more willing to take risks.

India is not only incredibly knowledgeable, she is also deeply committed to helping students develop in ways that feel meaningful. If you’re serious about your work and looking for someone who will meet you at that level, I can’t think of a better tutor.

India helps me to prepare for my upcoming university's entrance exams in English language. Her knowledge of both written and spoken English is highly advanced and as a teacher, she is supportive, patient and friendly. In India's lessons, the worlds of English and literature collide, creating productive and fun sessions! Five stars!

I've had a few sessions with India and it's been a fantastic experience. She’s gently pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to experiment in ways I hadn’t explored before—exactly what I needed to grow my painting practice. Her thoughtful art references and deep engagement with my process have helped me gain a clearer understanding of who I am as an artist. I highly recommend working with her.

India completely changed how I approached my art school application. I came in with a scattered portfolio and zero clue how to talk about my work. She helped me shape everything, from sketchbook pages to my personal statement, and helped made it feel like me instead of just ticking boxes.

She’s honest, sharp, and actually cares. I got into my first-choice schools (Goldsmiths and Cal Arts) and felt confident going into the interview, which I never thought would happen. If you're applying to art school or university in general, just book her.

India has been amazing at helping my child prepare for art school. She took the time to understand them and gave guidance that felt personal and clear. The sessions were focused and enjoyable, and my child left feeling more confident after each one. She was also super friendly and put my daughter at ease which really helped!

She has a great eye and understands what schools want. Her feedback was always useful and specific. She helped shape the portfolio, refine the writing, and gave solid support for the interview. We felt really supported from start to finish. I’d happily recommend her to anyone applying.

India helped me every step of the way in my University application. The way she articulates and explains things is so uniquely helpful - I feel like I learned so much during our time together. We worked quite intensively over a few months as I had decided I wanted to change the degree I was applying for and, amazingly, I got in to a really prestigious red brick University in London! I absolutely recommend her

I work for the UN and I am currently based in Eritrea. I started taking online classes with India last summer.

Working with India has improved my work immensely. Her enthusiasm for my art has given me great confidence to try new things and take a little bit more risk. I especially enjoy our conversations about art, other artists and how they communicate so that I can communicate better through my art!

She truly deserves five stars!

India is beyond words amazing, if it wasn’t for her I would have never gotten accepted into my dream university. So grateful for her!

India is undoubtedly the best tutor I've come across. As someone who previously used to avoid interviews because they made me nervous, within three days of tuition I transformed into a new person who became excited by the prospect of having one. I performed extremely well in my interview thanks to India's conscientious approach to helping me understand what employers want to hear, how to structure an interview answer, and how to calm my nerves prior. I couldn't recommend her enough and I will be requiring her services again for my friends and family.

Her patience, encouragement, and passion for art make every lesson inspiring and enjoyable. She always pushes me to improve while making the creative process fun and rewarding. I truly appreciate all her guidance and support that helped me getting into the fine art program in CSM.

Her patience, encouragement, and passion for art make every lesson inspiring and enjoyable. She always pushes me to improve while making the creative process fun and rewarding. I truly appreciate all her guidance and support that helped me getting into the fine art program in CSM.

I found India by chance while searching for a painting tutor on Superprof, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. Her lessons have been deeply inspiring. She speaks honestly about what she sees in my work, providing invaluable tools to help me dive further into my creative process. She’s also introduced me to other artists working with similar themes, which has been incredibly enriching for my research.

What truly sets India apart is her ability to read between the lines of what I’m trying to express in my images. She’s helped me identify less effective paths and guided me toward new, more authentic directions. India has shown me that the most powerful art comes from a deeply personal and internal place. She’s encouraged me to trust my own symbols and let them lead me in creating images, transforming the way I approach my art.

India is genuine, down-to-earth, and deeply passionate about her craft. You can tell that art is the very essence of her life.

Honestly, she’s an absolute gem on this platform, and I can’t recommend her enough.

India is professional, friendly and patient. Really helpful for not just preparing my portfolio but also improving my art.

India helped my daughter with her History of Art as well as Art and personal investigation. She gave good and valid points that brought my daughter's work from A to A*. Highly recommended!

I had a face to face tutorial with India which helped me a lot. Not only she encouraged me to try different medias in art but also helped me with my regular practice which if painting. The conversation was very friendly and motivated for me. If I would have a chance I would definitely have more tutorials with India.

India is an engaged and intelligent tutor. She asked poignant and challenging questions that made me think carefully about my work, and also gave me plenty of useful references that were relevant to the themes I’m researching. Would definitely recommend her!

India tutored me as a visiting Artist at Goldsmiths a while ago, and it was so helpful that I requested to see her again. She has a vast knowledge of contemporary Artists and historical references, which helps hugely in expanding knowledge on others’ practices and narrative. She consistently brings up fascinating avenues of conversation, otherwise maybe left unsaid! She is great at discussion about processes to reach the final product, which often can be discarded, but hugely important to know about! I find the conversations really easy and comfortable and I always get something valuable from every tutorial. Thanks so much India!

India is resourceful and knowledgeable. She is good at giving references. She has a unique insights in paintings, and is specific and would focus on the image itself.

India is a great tutor. After a relatively short session she offered lots of information on media, but also insightful input into my existing works. She isn’t afraid to suggest things to make your work better, and I certainly felt super motivated to experiment and try and take my work to the next level of completion. Her approach is considerate and well thought out and I hope to see her again soon at Goldsmiths.

India was my tutor during my first year in camberwell university of art, and first year is always intimidating especially for international students like myself, but India managed to ease me into the course with constructive feedback and very fun conversations about my practice and art in general:) She promoted me to question things that i didnt even think to question about the way i approached my paintings which ultimately really helped me grow as an artist!

India is most definitely a trustworthy tutor and would really support and guide you. India was my tutor during my first year studying painting at Camberwell College of Arts. She was a great tutor to have, not only due to her friendliness and approachable nature, but also due to her beneficial feedback. After regular one to one sessions with India, I would always know which direction to go in in terms of my painting and artwork. India is positive and encouraging about your paintings, whilst at the same time sharing her constructive feedback to aid your development. She gave me a lot of confidence in my artwork, which I am sure you will also gain from her as your painting tutor!

I'm a painting student and India was my tutor last year. It being my first year of uni, every tutorial we had was not only supportive but genuinely exciting, introducing me to most of my now favourite artists and creating a space to talk through any ideas. I can safely say she's had a massive positive influence on my work. India's a great artist and teacher :)

When I met India Nielsen, I really appreciated that she had an active art practice and could give me relevant insight to expand my practice. In the first year of my BA FA at Goldsmiths University I had a really pleasant tutorial with India; She was a really good listener, she also could see where I was in my practice and offered really insightful criticism, some of which I still think about today when I'm making work. Different to other tutors I have had, India showed a lot of enthusiasm in the tutorial I had with her, I could tell she loves art. It's her enthusiasm that really helped me to appreciate the parts of my work I wasn't aware of; she picked up on many things valuable things in my work and asked lots of questions. Overall India was one of my best tutorials and anyone who wants to gain an enthusiastic eye towards their art practice should absolutely choose India Neilsen!

I am India's manager on the BA (Hons) Painting course at University of the Arts London (Camberwell College of Arts). India is a highly valued tutor on the course. In addition to being an active, experienced practitioner in the field of contemporary painting, India is considerate and generous towards students, and always punctual, reliable and professional. I recommend India very strongly as a tutor with Superprof.

India was a visiting artist at Goldsmiths, we had a one-to-one tutorial in my second year, BAFA. She was thoughtful, attentive and knowledgeable. Her tutorial provided helpful, supportive feedback to move my art practice forward while still relying on my own voice and intuition.

I met India through artist friends who have been in exhibitions with her, and I'm a fan of her painting and her art writing. I recommended her as a visiting artists at my own institution, and the undergraduate students learned a lot from her tutorials. India is a brilliant artist and a smart thinker, and really understands how to help artists develop their own art practice both practically and conceptually, I wholeheartedly recommend her as a tutor.

I have worked with India, I find her to be trustworthy, hard-working and intelligent .

I'm a painter at Goldsmiths University and have had three tutor meetings with India over the past year. They have been some of the most pivotal tutorials I've had, helping me to lean into myself and think/talk about painting in ways I hadn't before. She is super friendly and is always constructively critical!

India has worked for me at Turps Art School and she is an excellent tutor . I would highly recommend her

India is a really excellent tutor. She's been great with my daughter, who historically has struggled with her self esteem and confidence in her own abilities. She was very patient with my daughter and really helped her open up to the creative process and feel comfortable. My daughter now loves showing off her work and has already won a prize within her secondary school art classes. I would recommend her in a heartbeat!

Perfect! India has a lot of experience, both as a teacher and as a professional artist and I have no doubt that she played a major role in helping my son get into one of the toughest art schools in the UK. She helped identify the weaker areas of his portfolio and helped him play to and develop his strengths. She was professional, personable and put my son at ease. Would recommend her to anyone.

Perfect! My daughter really enjoyed her art lessons! India explains well and is methodical and very knowledgable. Will be booking more as my daughter wants to apply to art school soon and India will be helping her put together her portfolio and write her personal statement.

I recently booked a series of painting lessons for my son to help him with his Art coursework and for his art exams. India is very knowledgeable, patient and helpful. My son really loved his extra lessons with her and his predicted grade has already gone up a whole grade band! Will definitely be getting more lessons soon.

I recently took some painting and drawing sessions with India and am so glad I did. I hadn’t had any experience before, I just wanted to try something new and develop new skills as 2024 approached. India made me feel at ease, taught me some basic technical skills and made it fun! I bought a pack of 20 sessions and they took place in different places - galleries, public places or studio which kept it varied and interesting! I now feel confident making drawings and watercolour paintings as gifts for family and friends (and I don’t feel embarrassed playing Pictionary anymore). Will definitely recommend India to friends. Thankyou!

India is a wonderful teacher. She was hired to teach A level art curriculum to my autistic son in his sixth form. It was especially challenging because a great deal of the lessons took place during Covid lockdowns. In between he did visit galleries and developed understanding and appreciation of different types of art. The end result was brilliant. He achieved his A level and gained wonderful knowledge and connection with art. He is currently studying at uni and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others as well as visiting art exhibitions in London. He also created beautiful pieces that hang in my home. I think it takes a special kind of teacher to inspire a student, be patient wit them (especially autistic student), keep them interested, build their confidence and help them achieve their potential. India is exactly that type of teacher. She will be a huge asset to Superprof.

India is an amazing tutor. She has tutored A Level Art and GCSE Photography to students within an SEN autistic provision. India always begins by forming excellent relationships with students and then her passion, talent and knowledge has supported students to achieve excellent grades.

India has been a close friend of mine for a decade. She is a hardworking, thoughtful and dedicated artist. She is always professional and organised and has a very strong awareness and sensitivity of herself and other peoples needs and a lot of patience. I think these qualities will make a good tutors !

I have worked with India in the past.

India has proven to be an exceptional teacher with a wealth of experience in her field. She is great at assisting students with their GCSE Artwork or creating portfolios in general. Her extensive background in this field makes her well-qualified to guide students through their coursework and portfolio development.


One of India's standout qualities is her remarkable patience and caring nature. She demonstrates a genuine concern for her students' progress and well-being. This empathy contributes significantly to creating a comfortable and nurturing learning environment.


India excels in one-on-one teaching sessions. Her ability to provide constant attention and support to individual students ensures they receive personalized guidance tailored to their unique needs. This approach fosters better comprehension and skill development among students.


India's commitment to student success is evident through her practice of assigning homework as necessary. This helps students stay organized, remain on top of their coursework, and meet deadlines for assignments. It reinforces the importance of time management and responsibility.

In conclusion, India's expertise, patience, and dedication to the success of her students make her a valuable asset to any educational institution. Her focus on one-on-one sessions and the thoughtful assignment of homework contribute significantly to student development and achievement. India's approach ensures that students are well-prepared for their Artwork qualifications.

India is an excellent teacher, who is dedicated, inspiring and inclusive.
India motivated my son into Art, he even won an Art competition! He ended up loving and studying photography.
I highly recommend India.

I absolutely loved our lessons with India! She was helping me out with prepping for my art portfolio review. She's incredibly intelligent and talented and I found our classes very impactful on my practice! I would definitely recommend anyone in a need of an art tutor. Thank you!