Unit Group (L4) 2651

2651 — Visual Artists

Browse this Unit Group profile and explore linked occupation titles.

L4 CODE: 2651
2 PROFESSIONALS → 26 Legal, Social And Cultural Professionals → 265 Creative and Performing Artists
Summary
Visual Artists (KeSCO 2651) supports outcomes in the Social Sciences, Creative & Media sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Minimum entry
Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
Future outlook
Future trends such as digital transformation, automation, climate resilience, and changing consumer needs are shaping most occupations. Workers who continuously upskill (digital literacy, quality standards, safety, customer service, and modern tools) are more resilient and competitive.
Sectors
Social Sciences, Creative & MediaProfessional ServicesPublic SectorPrivate SectorNGO/DevelopmentSpecialised Practice
Description
Visual Artists (KeSCO 2651) supports outcomes in the Social Sciences, Creative & Media sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Employment prospects
Prospects depend on national and county demand, sector investment, policy priorities, and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience, building a portfolio or track record, earning relevant certifications, and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Tasks
  • Plan and prioritise daily work activities to meet targets and deadlines
  • Follow workplace procedures, standards, and relevant regulations
  • Carry out core job duties accurately and safely
  • Use job tools/equipment/software correctly and maintain them appropriately
  • Communicate progress, issues, and requirements with supervisors and colleagues
  • Serve clients/customers professionally and resolve routine queries
  • Document work completed, maintain records, and submit routine reports
  • Identify errors, risks, or service gaps and propose improvements
  • Work as part of a team and coordinate tasks across units
  • Maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct where required
  • Comply with occupational safety and health (OSH) guidelines
  • Participate in training, mentoring, or continuous improvement activities
Skills
Communication (verbal and written) | Teamwork and collaboration | Problem-solving and critical thinking | Time management and prioritisation | Attention to detail and accuracy | Customer service orientation | Integrity and ethical conduct | Adaptability and continuous learning | Decision-making and judgement | Documentation and record-keeping | Digital literacy (basic) | Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Core skills
  • Communication (verbal and written)
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Time management and prioritisation
  • Attention to detail and accuracy
  • Customer service orientation
  • Integrity and ethical conduct
  • Adaptability and continuous learning
  • Decision-making and judgement
  • Documentation and record-keeping
  • Digital literacy (basic)
  • Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Technical skills
  • Use of hand and power tools safely
  • Installation, maintenance, and repair procedures
  • Reading drawings/specifications and measurements
  • Troubleshooting and fault diagnosis
  • Quality control and workmanship standards
  • Equipment handling and preventive maintenance
  • Workplace safety and PPE usage
  • Basic electrical/mechanical principles (as relevant)
  • Material handling and storage
  • Site readiness and task planning
  • Compliance with standards and inspections
Transferable skills
  • Leadership and supervision (as one progresses)
  • Negotiation and stakeholder management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Presentation and public speaking
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Planning and organisation
  • Resilience and stress management
  • Service mindset and empathy
  • Networking and relationship building
  • Analytical thinking
  • Professionalism and work discipline
Certifications
  • Trade test / competency certification (where applicable)
  • Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) certification (strongly recommended)
  • Equipment-specific operator certification (where applicable)
  • First Aid certification (recommended in many workplaces)
Education
Specialised degree in the relevant discipline | Graduate internship/attachments where applicable | Professional registration/licensing where regulated | Experience-based progression into senior/specialist roles
Pathways
  • Specialised degree in the relevant discipline
  • Graduate internship/attachments where applicable
  • Professional registration/licensing where regulated
  • Experience-based progression into senior/specialist roles
Relevant courses
  • Diploma/Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering
  • Diploma/Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
  • Civil/Construction Technology
  • Welding and Fabrication
  • Plumbing and Pipefitting
  • Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
  • Automotive Mechanics
  • Plant/Machine Operation
  • Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
  • CAD/Draughting basics
Institutions
  • Universities (accredited public and private universities offering relevant programmes)
  • National Polytechnics and TVET institutions (diploma, certificate, artisan programmes)
  • Technical Training Institutes and Vocational Centres
  • Professional Colleges and Accredited Training Academies
  • Sector Training Authorities and Recognised Centres of Excellence
  • Employer-based Academies and Apprenticeship Programmes
  • Online Learning Platforms (supplementary; verify recognition for regulated fields)
  • Industry Associations and Professional Bodies (short courses/CPD)
Minimum requirements
  • Minimum education: Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
  • Basic literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, and basic calculations)
  • Good conduct, reliability, and professional behaviour
  • Ability to follow instructions, procedures, and workplace rules
  • Basic digital literacy where the role uses computers/phones
  • Physical/medical fitness where the role is physically demanding or safety-sensitive
  • Regulatory registration/licensing where required (profession-dependent)
  • Background checks/clearance for sensitive roles where applicable
Work context
Workplace policies | Team collaboration | Quality standards | Professional environment | Standards compliance | Reporting
Where they work
  • Public sector institutions, private companies, NGOs and community-based organisations depending on the sector.
Work setting
Not specified.
Schedule
Full-time commonDaytime hours commonDeadlines possible
Employment type
Formal employment possible
Earnings
Entry level
KES 50,000 – 120,000
Mid level
KES 120,000 – 250,000
Senior level
KES 250,000+
Entry-level typical range (illustrative): KES 50,000 – 120,000 | Mid-level typical range (illustrative): KES 120,000 – 250,000 | Senior/experienced typical range (illustrative): KES 250,000+ | Earnings vary by employer (public/private), location, allowances, commissions, overtime, risk factors, and scarcity of skills
How to become one
Complete a degree in the relevant discipline, undertake internships or graduate programmes and meet any professional registration or licensing requirements.
Career progression
  • Entry/Intern → Junior Practitioner → Mid-level → Senior Specialist
  • Senior Specialist → Team Lead/Principal → Manager/Head of Unit (where applicable)
  • Some pathways include consultancy, research, training, or policy roles
Related occupations
  • Other occupations within the same KeSCO major group
  • Support roles in the same sector/industry
  • Supervisory roles related to this occupation’s work area
  • Specialist variants of the same occupation (where they exist)
Occupation titles
2651-13 — Artist
Artist is a professional role responsible for create objects that are beautiful, thought provoking, and sometimes shocking; strive to communicate ideas or feelings through their art; craft artists work with many different materials, including ceramics, glass, textiles, wood, metal, and paper.8 sep within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-14 — Artist, fine
Artist, fine is a professional role responsible for paint landscapes, portraits, and other subjects in a variety of styles, ranging from realistic to abstract; they may work in a variety of media, such as watercolors, oil paints, and acrylics; furniture makers cut, sand, join, and finish wood and other materials to make handcrafted furnishings within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-23 — Artist, miniature reproduction
Artist, miniature reproduction is a professional role responsible for a miniaturist is an artist who paints in great detail on a very small scale; does small, discrete works; makes, collects, or specializes in miniature objects: a miniaturist with a collection of dollhouses within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-15 — Cartoonist
Cartoonist is a professional role responsible for draw still pictures to amuse, entertain, educate, and persuade people; cartoonists draw illustrations used in marketing and advertising, newspapers and magazines, comic books, graphic novels, greeting cards, video game packaging, and more; idea generation by brainstorm concepts, themes, or narratives tailored to the medium or audience within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-12 — Ceramic Artist
Ceramic Artist is a professional role responsible for conceive and create functional or artistic articles by moulding clay, glass and other fusible materials using hand building and wheel techniques; researching and developing new designs, techniques, or types of ceramics within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-16 — Engraver and Etcher (Artistic)
Engraver and Etcher (Artistic) is a professional role responsible for use both hand tools and power tools to inscribe lettering and designs on surfaces— usually metal, glass, or plastic; skilled with computer aided design and manufacturing software, they also create digital versions of designs to program their equipment to create a perfect execution of each piece; inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defect and examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-17 — Engraver, artistic
Engraver, artistic is a professional role responsible for carefully carve beautiful symbols and words on wood, metal, or other materials; consult with clients or designers to understand the design requirements for the engraving project and prepare the materials to be engraved, which may include cleaning and polishing surfaces; interpreting design instructions, setting up engraving machines, making adjustments to speed and depth within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-18 — Etcher, artistic
Etcher, artistic is a professional role responsible for create the original base copy of an image by etching it into a metal plate, which they can then use to make many prints of the same image by covering it with ink and pressing it onto paper; cleaning and coating the surface with a protective layer, known as a resist, to protect areas that are not to be etched; skilled in using tools like etching needles and must have a good understanding of the principles and processes involved in the etching technique within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-21 — Graphic Artist
Graphic Artist is a professional role responsible for creates designs for clients that visually communicate desired product or project messages; designs may be used in various visual media including magazines, billboards, advertising, restaurant menus, and product packaging; establish graphical standards for the creation of graphical elements, layouts, and presentations conduct research on new design trends and techniques while keeping up with the latest technology in the industry create original artwork for digital communication and marketing uses work on new designs using the latest tools like photoshop, illustrator etc within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-26 — Illustrator
Illustrator is a professional role responsible for informs, persuade or entertain a client's intended audience, adjusting the mood and style of images accordingly; many illustrators specialize in a particular design medium, such as drawing, photography or digital illustration; create engaging and age appropriate illustrations that complement and enhance the intended audience within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-22 — Other Artists
2651-25 — Picture restorer
Picture restorer is a professional role responsible for repairs or restores various pieces of fine artwork; assessing artwork, treating art pieces and recordkeeping; evaluating damaged or aged photographs to determine the extent of damage and the best restoration process within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-24 — Portrait Painter
Portrait Painter is a professional role responsible for captures the intimate likeness of a person on paper, canvas, or another surface, as a sculpture, photograph, painting, or another medium altogether; portrait painter uses paints, pastels, pencils, ink, and even push pins to create realistic, or not so realistic portraits of their subjects consulting with clients to understand their vision and requirements for the portrait studying the subject or photo to be painted and planning the composition of the artwork research on the subject matter to ensure accuracy and authenticity of the creations within the creative and performing arts sector.
2651-11 — Sculptor
Sculptor is a professional role responsible for design and shape three dimensional works of art, either by molding and joining materials such as clay, glass, plastic, and metal or by cutting and carving forms from a block of plaster, wood, or stone; combine various materials to create mixed media displays called installations within the creative and performing arts sector.