Personalised for LOCAL students.
Local student means; you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.
Personalised for INTERNATIONAL students.
International student means; you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.

Sean Payne

portrait of Sean Payne

Seán Payne teaches visual arts. He is an artist, teacher and writer who makes photographs, drawings, paintings, collages and assemblages. He is particularly interested in the commonalities between media, visual cultures and vernacular visual languages. He often takes a minimal approach and is increasingly exploring abstraction. Seán has a consciously ‘mixed media’ approach, reflecting his varied background. He enjoys exploring the underlying theoretical and historical reasons why things look the way they do. 

Seán has been teaching at Melbourne Polytechnic since 2015. He also taught at Deakin University and La Trobe University for many years. He likes summarising complex information or difficult ideas into a form that can be grasped by any student and integrated into their creative practice. He loves to give students a sense that all visual culture is theirs to use and participate in. He also teaches important skills across the visual arts, including drawing, painting, photography and mixed media. Seán loves to ignite students’ excitement when they begin to sense the possibilities of a simple technique or explore a previously vague idea and give it concrete form. He also loves to make unexpected connections between history and the everyday visual environment we all occupy and often take for granted. 

Seán completed a Masters of Visual Arts (by research) in 2005 and an Honours degree in Visual Arts in 2001 at La Trobe University. He also has a Diploma of Photography from the Australian College of Photography Art and Communication, received in 1993. He has participated in many solo and group exhibitions since 1990. He won the Australian Postgraduate Award in 2002, was ACPAC Student of the Year in 1993 and won an Ilford Student Scholarship in 1991. Seán has been an exhibiting artist since 1990 and also worked in commercial graphic design and illustration over many years. He writes on visual arts and individual artists and publishes articles, essays and blogs.  

Awards & Grants  

1991 - Ilford Student Scholarship 
1993 - Australian College of Photography, Art and Communication Student of the Year 
2002 - Australian Postgraduate Award

Visual Art Courses at Melbourne Polytechnic

Certificate III in Jewellery Manufacture - Non-apprenticeship MEM30619
Visual Art - Full Time - Fairfield
Visual Art - Full Time - Fairfield
Turn your passion for creating beautiful jewellery into a rewarding career.
Diploma of Visual Arts - Illustration CUA51120
Visual Art - Full Time, Part Time - Preston
VTAC Visual Art - Full Time, Part Time - Preston
Push the boundaries of your art practice and develop your artistic skills and techniques. Work towards becoming an illustrator or designer in our Diploma of Visual Arts CUA51120 at Melbourne Polytechnic. Be bold and brave – follow your passion, it could lead anywhere.
Certificate IV in Visual Arts CUA41320
Visual Art - Full Time, Part Time - Collingwood, Preston
VTAC Visual Art - Full Time, Part Time - Collingwood, Preston
Our Certificate IV in Visual Arts CUA41320 will help you build upon foundational artistic techniques and refine your artistic practice. You’ll advance your skills in drawing, illustration, printmaking, painting, design and digital imaging and photography. This broad range of media and processes will help you find your artistic strengths, and is supported by units in art history and professional practice.
Bachelor of Illustration
Visual Art - Full Time, Part Time - Fairfield
VTAC Visual Art - Full Time, Part Time - Fairfield
Let the Bachelor of Illustration at Melbourne Polytechnic draw you in. Develop your practical skills and knowledge to a high level and engage in research based practice that will enhance your capacity to see the world in a different way. This unique degree also addresses business practice and opportunities for entrepreneurship in today’s creative arts industry
Advanced Diploma of Creative Product Development CUA60420
Visual Art - Full Time, Part Time - Preston
Visual Art - Full Time, Part Time - Preston
The Advanced Diploma of Creative Product Development CUA60420 is designed to prepare you to make a smooth transition into a professional practice, working in an industry-related role or in a freelance capacity.