Talisman Revised 4th Edition Upgrade Kit

I bought this to upgrade the components in my Talisman game which is the Black Industries 4th Edition, because I wanted to have the minis and the better cards that fit in the box properly. So far I am impressed that I can have the minis and the standee cardboard figures in the same box for variety's sake - but how would you advise I paint and file down some of the plastic minis?

Is this a summer project worth undertaking on such short notice before Christmas, which is usually my year's greatest summer project unrelated to art school? Would it be cool to paint the figures and use them as a personal art project for my Photomedia class/degree to aid my progress at Uni?