Biography

Isabelle is a gifted and idiosyncratic artist, who was born in Inverness and grew up in the Highlands of Scotland.

In 2016, Isabelle graduated from Gray’s School of Art with a First Class BA (Hons) in Painting. Whilst at Gray’s, she was awarded a Cross Trust Vacation Award which she used to travel to Iceland to collect visual research. This trip was the catalyst for her fourth year work and degree show.

After graduating from Gray’s, Isabelle was one of the selected Graduates in Residence at Leith School of Art. At the 2016 Visual Arts Scotland annual exhibition she won the Great Art Award.

In 2018, Isabelle exhibited in London at both the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize in the Mall Galleries and at Fully Awake in the Royal College of Art. She also received an award to undergo one-to-one animation tutorials from Highland Visual Artist & Craft Maker Award Scheme and won a Hope Scott Trust Award to for research in Canada.

Isabelle’s oil paintings often include text and other materials. She paints to understand the value of the wilderness: to reawaken our slow and essential ‘mountain time’.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Ayrshire-born painter Blair McLaughlin is a committed artist with a distinctive style.

Whilst in his third year of a BA (Hons) at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Blair gained an ERASMUS award to study abroad for a semester in Nantes, France. His grades at the host university were so outstanding, he was offered the opportunity to continue his studies there for the whole year. After his graduation in 2014, Blair received significant recognition for his work, gaining a place on the long-list for the Saatchi New Sensations Award.

Since this time Blair has continued to develop his practice, and his work has proved popular with galleries and exhibitors. His paintings focus on the cultural differences in our consumption of violence and the aestheticization of violence in popular culture and media.

Blair has been accepted to study a Masters at Glasgow School of Art, and is expected to have a promising future ahead of him.

How the Award Helped

Since the Award

Biography

Artist Matthew was born in Edinburgh and has spent most of his life in Scotland.  He studied at Gray’s School of Art from 2005-2009, and graduated with a first class honours degree in Fine Art and Printmaking.

After spending five years developing his practice back in Edinburgh, Matthew successully gained a place to study on MA Painting programme at the Royal College of Art. He is dedicated to specialising in painting as a medium, and aims to master his artform whilst also promoting public understanding of and engagement with visual art.

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Biography

Ross grew up in Clackmannanshire, in the Central Lowlands.  He moved to Dundee to study at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, where he received a first class BA(Hons) in Fine Art in 2008 and a Masters of Fine Art with Distinction in 2010.

Now living in Edinburgh, Ross is represented by the EB&Flow Gallery in London.  Over the past two years he has exhbited at a number of shows and has garnered praise from prestigious institutions such as the Royal Scottish Academy and Saatchi Gallery, as well as from private collectors.  He has earned a reputation as being a truly talented painter with a promising career ahead of him.

How the Award Helped

Ross has received a Dewar Arts Award to help him realise his ambitions for his first solo show.

Inspired by his work exploring the derelict St Peter’s Seminary in Glasgow, Ross will create a new series of 10 to 12 large scale paintings.  The solo show will take place at the EB&Flow Gallery in Shoreditch, London.

Biography

An especially skilled and talented painter, Lyndsey creates work on canvas and “crumbling sash windows”.

Orginally from Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, Lyndsey’s family moved several times before settling in Overtown, North Lanarkshire. In 2006, Lyndsey was offered a place to study at the prestigious Gray’s School of Art. Gaining insight in a wide range of areas including printmaking, sculpture, textiles and photography, Lyndsey chose to specialise in painting.

Whilst still a student, Lyndsey’s talent was recognised by the selectors of the RSA New Contemporaries Exhibition. Her fine handling of paint stood out and earned her a much sought after place in the 2011 Edinburgh show.  Lyndsey continued her independent practice in Glasgow-based artist studios and has now exhibited work in galleries across Britain, receiving special commendations.

In 2012, Lyndsey was accepted onto a world-class post-graduate course at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. Alumni include Anthony Gormley, Stanley Spencer and Tactita Dean.  This offered an exceptional opportunity to develop her skills and profile as an artist.

Lyndsey aspires to exhibit her artwork internationally and to create exciting shows that inspire younger generations.  She is also keen to develop her teaching practice, encouraging other young artists to “find their artistic voice within the contemporary art field”.

How the Award Helped

Since the Award

June 2010: Review in The Scotsman

Biography

In 2005, Heather Ross graduated from Gray’s School of Art as an outstanding painter with a first class honour degree.  Her talent was recognised by the school and she was offered the opportunity to lecture there part time.

Heather is curious and ambitious, and has won numerous distinctions, awards and scholarships to exhibit and travel. She is driven to pursue her passion, and in 2012 gained a place on a prestigious masters course at Chelsea College of Art.

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Biography

Originally from Duncanstone, a small village outside Insch in Aberdeenshire, Chloe graduated from the University of Dundee with a degree in fine art and philosophy.

Chloe’s work has been described as delicate, poetic and quietly engaging. One of the top students in her year, Chloe was selected to exhibit in the competitive and prestigious RSA New Contemporary exhibition in 2010. Following the exhibition, she was awarded the David and June Gordon Memorial Trust prize and the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh Purchase prize. Considered to be a hugely talented and original painter, she has exhibited in a number of high-profile galleries.

Chloe moves to Boston for a year to participate in an intensive year of studio art study and practice.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has enabled Chloe to pursue postgraduate studies in visual art at the School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Since the Award

Biography

Edinburgh-born Elaine was brought up by her traditional Chinese parents and is equally comfortable in both Chinese and Western cultures. From a young age she went to the Chinese school learning how to read and write Chinese. During that time, she was taught Chinese poetry and calligraphy. She has visited China several times to visit relatives.

In the family home, the fusion of the two cultures was reflected in the prints, textiles and furnishings. However, Scotland has always felt like home to Elaine.

Elaine moved to Glasgow at the age of 18 to study Fine Art at the Glasgow School of Art. She graduated with a good degree, acquired a studio and began working as a full-time artist, exhibiting throughout the UK. She began to be noticed as a serious and thoughtful painter and her first solo exhibition was ‘Portraits’ in Glasgow.

Elaine has received recognition for her work in the form of the James Torrance Memorial Award, the Hope Scott Trust Award and the Cross Trust Fund.

Elaine was offered a post as Artist in Residence for one month at the University of Guizhou, based at the Art Academy of Guiyang. Elaine says of the experience that, “it helped to bring back some strong connections to my Chinese roots; providing me with a better understanding of the Chinese way of life and its ancient philosophy.” An exhibition of new work inspired by this visit can be seen in the Harbour Art Centre in Irvine in 2009.

How the Award Helped

Elaine has been offered the Partial Fellowship Artist Residency in the Vermont Studio Center, Johnson in Vermont. The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the funding of her stay there.

Since the Award