11 May 2026

Eòlas-Charm: New Album from Ciorstaidh and Steaph Chaimbeul

The Dewar Award-winning sisters have formed innovative contemporary chamber duo Sgo.

Sgo (Steaph and Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul). Image credit: Jonny Ashworth / Chamber Music Scotland.

We are delighted to celebrate the recent achievements of the innovative musical duo Sgo, formed by sisters Steaph and Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul. The Skye-born duo have recently been named the Chamber Music Scotland Ensemble in Residence for 2025–26.

What makes this residency especially meaningful for the Trust is that both sisters are part of our alumni community, each having received support from the Dewar Arts Awards at different stages of their musical development.

Steaph received a Dewar Award in 2013 to support her harp studies at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, studying under the tutorship of Eira Lynn-Jones. Reflecting on her award at the time, Steaph shared:

“I feel honoured to receive your invaluable support… and I am determined to make the most of my time at the RNCM with all the opportunities that this award has opened up for me.”

In 2024, Ciorstaidh received her own Dewar Award to support advanced accordion studies in Copenhagen under the guidance of renowned professors Geir Draugsvoll and Bjarke Mogensen. Reflecting on that pivotal period, Ciorstaidh said:

“The Dewar Award has given me the invaluable gift of time to dedicate myself to my musical development in an international context. Without the Dewar Arts Award, such an opportunity would have been beyond my financial means.”

These two separate paths of world-class training have now converged into Sgo. Their combined experiences have culminated in ‘Eòlas-Charm’, the duo’s spellbinding debut album released on 13 May 2026. Recorded in Copenhagen, the album blends the sisters’ Gaelic upbringing with contemporary chamber music and experimental sound design. Each of the ten compositions is named after a tree native to the Gaelic world, exploring the expressive limits of the harp, accordion, and voice.

To mark the release of Eòlas-Charm, Sgo are embarking on a five-date headline tour across Scotland this month. The tour marks a homecoming for the Skye-born sisters, bringing their Copenhagen-honed sound to audiences across the country.

As Sgo continue their residency through 2026, we look forward to following the next stage of their musical journey and seeing how their work continues to evolve.

To find out more about applying to the Dewar Arts Awards, visit: dewarawards.org/apply

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24 April 2026

Awardee Blog: Laura Penman

Following her recent Ruth Wishart Award win, Laura Penman reflects on a year of extraordinary professional milestones, including an invitation to 10 Downing Street.

Receiving a Dewar Award has kickstarted my musical career. It has given me the opportunity to purchase my electro harp, which has in turn allowed me to perform at various events across Scotland as both a soloist and with others, from Belladrum to Celtic Connections. My composition skills have improved, and I have been in the studio recording a debut album with my band Dàna. Recently, I was extremely grateful to receive additional support from the Ruth Wishart award. I’ll put this towards purchasing pedals to use alongside my electro harp and publish my own tune book.

I was utterly surprised and honoured to receive an invite to a Burns Night Reception at 10 Downing Street as a Dewar Award Recipient. It was a whirlwind of a week, from receiving the invite to organising a trip to London.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a bagpiper and three highland dancers. Once inside, there was a clarsach and fiddle duo, and we were treated to a rendition of two Burns poems. I met so many wonderful and inspirational people connected to Scotland, including a radio host based in Aberdeen Hospital and the Chief Executive of ScotsCare, a charity for Scottish people in London.

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to attend this event at 10 Downing Street as a Dewar awardee. The support I received from the Dewar award has been significant to my early music career, and I look forward to where it takes me in future.

To find out more about applying to the Dewar Arts Awards, visit: dewarawards.org/apply

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30 March 2026

New Writers Award success for David Ross Linklater

A rising voice in Scottish poetry, the Dewar Awardee is one of nine recipients of Scottish Book Trust’s 2026 New Writers Award.

We are thrilled to congratulate David Ross Linklater on being named a recipient of the prestigious Scottish Book Trust 2026 New Writers Award.

Originally from Easter Ross, David received a Dewar Award in 2015 to support his masters studies in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow. Since graduating, he has earned significant acclaim for a poetic voice that draws inspiration from rural life, exploring the intricate relationships between people, place and tradition.

David’s work has appeared in Poetry Ireland Review and The Dark Horse, and he is the author of five pamphlets. His most recent collection, Affection is the Broadcast, was published by Pinhole Poetry Press in 2025. His list of accolades include winning the 10th Ó Bhéal International Writing Competition and being shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Award.

This latest recognition from the Scottish Book Trust provides David with a £2,500 grant, professional mentorship, and a retreat to further develop his craft. Reflecting on the news, David shared:

“Getting the call about this was such a surreal experience. Coming into the new year with a feeling of momentum, I’m excited to really focus and dig into my writing. ”

We have watched David’s career go from strength to strength since his initial award, and look forward to seeing the impact of this new chapter on his work.

 

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16 March 2026

Ruth Wishart Award 2025: Laura Penman

The Dewar Arts Awards is proud to announce Laura Penman as the recipient of the 2025 Ruth Wishart Award.

Laura Penman pictured performing at BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2025. Image credit: Alan Peebles.

The Ruth Wishart Award was established to recognise the dedication and expertise of the Dewar Arts Awards founding Chair, Dr Ruth Wishart. A respected broadcaster and journalist, Ruth was instrumental in shaping the Awards’ mission to ensure that no young person in Scotland is prevented from realising their creative and artistic talent because of financial barriers.

The Ruth Wishart Award is distinctive in being awarded retrospectively, rather than through application and is a cash award of £1,000. Each year, the Dewar Trustees review the final reports of Dewar Arts Awardees who have completed their funded projects and, having done so, select a winner. For the 2025 Prize, a shortlist of four was drawn up for Ruth’s final consideration. Ruth then selected the overall recipient. We are delighted that the 2025 Award goes to Laura Penman.

About Laura Penman

Laura Penman is a clarsach player, pianist, and composer whose musical roots began in Gaelic Medium Education in Edinburgh and continued through the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) Juniors.  She went on to study on the BMus Traditional Music course at the Royal Conservatoire, graduating in 2024. 

That same year, Laura received a Dewar Award, which enabled her to purchase an electro-harp: 

“Receiving a Dewar Award has kickstarted my musical career after graduating,” Laura said. “It has given me the opportunity to purchase my electro harp, which has in turn allowed me to perform at events across Scotland. I have worked hard to develop my skills, and I’m now reaching a point where I feel confident to create and perform new music using it.”

Since receiving her Dewar Award, Laura’s career has developed rapidly. She has performed at high-profile festivals, including Belladrum and the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, and was named a finalist for the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award in 2025. While at the RCS, Laura also formed, with fellow students, an all-female band called Dàna. The group has performed at a range of events and festivals, including Piping Live! and Under Canvas, and is currently recording its debut album. 

As Laura continues to build her career in the Scottish traditional music scene, the Dewar Awards Trustees are delighted to recognise her progress with The Ruth Wishart Award and look forward to applauding her successes in the future.

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25 February 2026

Fashion News: Strike a Pose

Dewar Awardees Hayley Scanlon and Sarah McCormack named “Ones to Watch” by The Herald Magazine.

We were thrilled to see two former Dewar Awardees recognised as “ones to watch” in Strike a Pose, a recent feature in The Herald Magazine (14 February 2026). The article shines a spotlight on five Scottish fashion designers shaping the future of the industry, including Hayley Scanlan and Sarah McCormack.

Hayley Scanlan

While studying textile design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee, Hayley Scanlan was offered a remarkable opportunity: a nine-month unpaid internship in Los Angeles with renowned designer Jeremy Scott.

During her time in his Hollywood studio, Hayley collaborated on print designs for inclusion in his Spring/Summer 2008 collection. A Dewar Arts Award enabled her to take up the internship and her bold print designs were featured in a ready-to-wear collection showcased at Paris Fashion Week. The experience gave her what she described as an “intense insight into the reality of the hard work and dedication involved in the fashion industry”.

Since then, Hayley’s career has gone from strength to strength. She founded H.S by Hayley Scanlan, an independent contemporary womenswear brand, and became the first designer to win the Scottish Young Designer of the Year award twice at the Scottish Fashion Awards (2012 and 2014). She has also appeared on Netflix reality show Next in Fashion and recently launched a new sewing school in Dundee, offering eight-week programmes for adults and children.

Sarah McCormack

Originally from Dumfries, Sarah McCormack is an experimental designer whose work bridges traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation. Sarah began her studies with an HND in Fashion Design at Clyde College, Glasgow, before progressing to a BA at the University of Westminster in London. During her degree, she undertook a year-long industry placement, securing an internship at Maison Margiela Artisanal in Paris under the creative direction of John Galliano.

In 2018, she was accepted onto the prestigious MA Fashion programme at Central Saint Martins, London, and received a Dewar Arts Award to support her postgraduate studies. While at Saint Martins, she was joint winner of the L’Oréal Professionnel Creative Award.

Sarah’s practice centres on handcrafted, artisanal clothing that pairs old and new. Hand dyeing and printing techniques are central to her work, and she frequently combines vintage textiles with experimental fabrications. In 2023, musician and producer FKA Twigs wore one of Sarah’s creations at a Paris Fashion Week gala.

 

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Supporting Scotland’s Creative Future

The Dewar Arts Awards continue to champion young Scottish creatives working in textiles and fashion. Our funding has enabled Awardees to pursue study and postgraduate education, produce collections, and access vital professional development opportunities. Our recent Awardees include Olivia Shearon (2023), Benaissa Majeri (2024) and Arouge Salim (2024).

If you’re a young Scottish creative looking to take the next step in your journey, applications for the Dewar Arts Awards are open all year round. To learn more about our application process and how to apply for our support, visit dewarawards.org/apply.

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16 September 2025

Alyth Ross cast in new BBC legal drama

The 2019 Dewar Awardee will star in Counsels, a new BBC legal drama set in Glasgow.

Dewar Awardee Alyth Ross has been announced as a cast member for the new BBC legal drama Counsels, with filming underway in Glasgow.

Counsels tells the story of young lawyers who are trying to navigate their complex and messy lives at a time when their careers turn serious. Having trained together at an elite law school, the characters are now scattered across the profession and find themselves facing each other in court. The eight-part series has been created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsely and Gillian McCormack. It is being made by Balloon Entertainment for BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland.

Alyth received a Dewar Award in 2019 to support her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Speaking of the award, she said:

“The Dewar Arts award has provided me and so many other young people with a life-changing opportunity; to achieve things I never dreamt I would. As a Scottish student from a rural background, I had never anticipated that I’d have to pay for my higher education, and so when I was first offered my place at Guildhall I almost had to turn it down due to funding. However, thanks to the incredibly generous support from Dewar Arts, I’ve been able to continue my training at this exceptional institution, which is without a doubt everything I’d anticipated and more. I am extremely grateful. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

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2024 Awardee: Brendan Norris

Dewar Award has helped me to purchase a professional quality double bass. Having an instrument which allows me to fulfil my potential as a bass player and orchestral musician is a life long and life altering investment.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2024
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Brendan Norris is a double bass player who is passionate about pursuing an orchestral career while writing and arranging music for the double bass. He is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is now doing his Masters at the ‘Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler’ Berlin with Matthew McDonald – Principal Double Bass of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Brendan grew up in a musical family near Biggar. With a gifted composer for a mother, Brendan was inspired to take up the piano and write his own music from an early age. He didn’t discover the double bass however until the age of fourteen while playing mandolin in a blue grass group and getting to have a shot of their double bass. It was love at first plonk, and Brendan quickly took up lessons with May Haliburton. Within three years he had already received a distinction at Grade 8 and entry into the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Since then he has: played principal bass on Medici TV in the prestigious Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra; been part of a variety side by side schemes and young artist programmes; and become an extra player for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

During the final year of his undergraduate degree, Brendan won a number of prizes and competitions including: 1st prize in the Classical Concerto Competition; 1st prize in the Governors Recital Prize for Strings; Highly commended (2nd place) in the Concerto Competition; and the Eugene Cruft Prize for Double Bass.

In the latter years of his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Brendan realised he wanted to get back in touch with the creative aspects of music which started his musical journey. Brendan has started writing and arranging music for double bass, often merging the influences of classical, jazz and traditional Scottish folk music which he experienced during his undergraduate in Glasgow. Having a Masters of Music with the Principal of the Berlin Philharmonic ahead of him, Brendan is excited to take his playing to the next level and keep expanding the repertoire for his beloved double bass.

How the Award Helped

Brendan received a Dewar Award to support the purchase of a professional standard double bass.

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Dewar Award has helped me to purchase a professional quality double bass. Having an instrument which allows me to fulfil my potential as a bass player and orchestral musician is a life long and life altering investment.

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2021 Awardee: Alasdair Campbell

The financial help that Dewar have provided me with has been of massive help. As a student the costs of being a musician had become more pressuring, but the financial help that The Dewar Arts Award have given me has massively helped, and allowed my focus to be fully re-shifted back to my passion for music and the enjoyment I get out of it. It has allowed me to be able to fund the continuation of music lessons, and thus ensuring my continued development.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2021
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Alasdair Campbell is a Scottish violinist and fiddle player, who has been playing since early primary school. He says that “Music has been a prominent part of my life since and would be the first thing that many people associate me with”. During his school years, Alasdair was involved with various music groups, including the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and The Glasgow Schools’ String Orchestra.

Music has also been a very large part of Alasdair’s social life, he says: “Playing with friends at what are typically very social events such as Ceilidhs and weddings gives me immense enjoyment in a somewhat different way to a classical orchestral concert, which would have different demands yet be immensely enjoyable in different ways”.

Alasdair achieved a distinction in his Trinity Grade 8 violin exam with a mark of 93/100 overall. Alasdair performed with musicians from India in George Square at the Mela ‘Eadarainn’ project for the European Athletics Championships in 2018. He also had a solo performancein on fiddle at the ‘Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl’ concert, held in Glasgow’s City Halls in 2019.

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The financial help that Dewar have provided me with has been of massive help. As a student the costs of being a musician had become more pressuring, but the financial help that The Dewar Arts Award have given me has massively helped, and allowed my focus to be fully re-shifted back to my passion for music and the enjoyment I get out of it. It has allowed me to be able to fund the continuation of music lessons, and thus ensuring my continued development.

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2024 Awardee: Keavie Holliday

The Donald Dewar award has helped me massively - ensuring I could attend the Rambert School to further my dance training and be closer to turning my dreams into a reality.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2024
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Keavie Holliday has been dancing since the age of 3 and has loved it ever since. She was awarded distinctions in her RAD ballet exams, and her teachers have described her as a humble and dedicated student, with a gift for choreography.

Keavie has also achieved success in international competitions, placing in the top twelve at the Youth America Grand Prix and 3rd at Dance Open America, where she received the ‘Outstanding Contemporary Dancer Award’.

She has performed around the world, sharing her love for dance in New York City, Italy, Paris and Bahrain. In 2024, she started attending Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary.

How the Award Helped

Keavie’s award supports her BA (Hons) studies at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance.

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The Donald Dewar award has helped me massively - ensuring I could attend the Rambert School to further my dance training and be closer to turning my dreams into a reality.

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19 May 2025

Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland

The CATS Awards celebrate extraordinary achievements in Scottish Theatre and we’re delighted to see Dewar Awardees among the 2025 nominees.

The Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) honour the best achievements in Scottish theatre each year, selected by a panel of expert theatre critics. First awarded in 2003, the CATS have become an annual celebration of the best in Scottish theatre. To be eligible for a CATS Award, shows must be substantially produced in Scotland, or developed, rehearsed and premiered in Scotland. We were delighted to see Dewar Awardees Dani Heron (2009) and Martin Quinn (2014) featured in the shortlist for the 2025 Awards.

Dani Heron was nominated for the Outstanding Performance award for Alright Sunshine. A razor-sharp monologue dissecting gender, power, and who owns public space, the play was written by Isla Cowan and directed at the Tron Theatre by 2010 Dewar Awardee Debbie Hannan.

Dani received a Dewar Award in 2009 to support her degree studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Speaking of the award at the time, she said:

“Without your support, my dram of training at LAMDA may not have been possible, and for that reason I cannot thank you enough.”

Dani was also in the cast of Radiant Vermin at the Tron Theatre, which was shortlisted for Best Ensemble. Philip Ridley’s wickedly comic satire tells the story of a young couple offered a ‘too-good-to-be-true’ way onto the property ladder. In this role, she starred alongside fellow Dewar Awardee Martin Quinn.

Martin received a Dewar Award in 2014 to support his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Speaking at the time, he said:

“It is no exaggeration to say that I would find it impossible to train at Guildhall without the support of the Dewar Arts Award. Needless to say, I am very grateful!”

To find out more about the CATS Awards, visit: criticsawards.theatrescotland.com
To find out more about applying to the Dewar Arts Awards, visit: dewarawards.org/apply

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