NEWS

Art students success in The Sovereign Art Foundation final

On Tuesday 6th December, after a year of hard work and months of promoting and voting both online and Island-wide, The Sovereign Art Foundation Guernsey held its Annual STUDENT PRIZE Awards Ceremony at St James.

As well as having twenty Key Stage Three Merit Awards, The Ladies’ College Art Department were proud and excited to have 10 finalists in this prestigious event, of which the standard of talent across the island’s secondary schools was higher than ever this year.

Abigail Bran and Holly Mitchell very deservedly were awarded Art for Guernsey Scholarship Award of an all-expensive paid Residential Art Masterclass in London. The students will experience bespoke workshops with a range of artists, 1-2-1 tuition, gallery visits and an opportunity to develop existing skills and techniques and learn so much more from experienced artists.

Abigail Bran triumphed in The Judges Prize, with her stunning painting ‘Malala’.

Abigail’s piece was produced as a final piece to her A-level Unit 1 (Year 12) which was focused on portraits which evolved into society issues within cultures.

About her piece:

‘Although improved from previous centuries, gender equality is still a prevalent fight in society. I recognize my place of privilege as someone who has received an education from a young age, but there are many girls and women across the globe that are still fighting for this human right. An incredible advocate for women’s education, is Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai. I find Malala incredibly inspiring. She was just 16 when she delivered a speech at the United Nations on the need for gender equality and is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. By adding gender-based statistical findings around her portrait I hope to convey this gross injustice which her progressive work challenges.’

Abigail commented on her win;

'I have entered Sovereign Arts in previous years and been unsuccessful, my goal for this year was just to be shortlisted. I was excited to be among the 20 artists in the final. Every finalist produced incredible, unique pieces; I was shocked to have been chosen for the judges prizes as every piece deserved it.

To have also been offered a place in the London summer scholarship programme, is an exciting opportunity, that I am sure will enhance the scope of art styles that inspire my own work.’

We would like to say a massive CONGRATULATIONS to all the finalists and winners, whose incredible success is a testament not only to their hard work and amazing talent, but also to the dedication and motivation from the Art Departments in all the schools on the island that helped these students to gain the confidence to produce such outstanding work. In addition, a huge thank you to Sovereign Art Foundation Guernsey and Arts for Guernsey who provide an opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work of art students on the island and offer those students truly invaluable experiences.