2012 Awardee: Kyle Spires

This award has quite literally been life changing, enabling me to push my visions and challenge myself at this critical time.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2012
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Kyle is a gifted fashion designer, originally from Greenock.  As an undergraduate he studied at the Edinburgh College of Art, where he learned about fashion, design, construction and illustration.  At the age of 22, he moved to London to take up a place on the RCA’s MA in Womenswear.

Whilst studying in London, Kyle proved himself to be a throughly committed and self-motivated individual, whose work is creative, highly relevant and underpinned with a strong technical awareness.  His aesthetic has been described as both polished and personal, and in 2011 he won the prestigious Karen Millen Portfolio Award at Graduate Fashion Week. He is an ambitious and innovative, a natural communicator, and has a bright future ahead of him.

How the Award Helped

The process of developing a final collection can be extremely costly.  Kyle’s Dewar Award supported him in this crucial stage of his studies, allowing him the freedom to test out new techniques and explore his full potential for innovation.

Back

This award has quite literally been life changing, enabling me to push my visions and challenge myself at this critical time.

Back

2012 Awardee: Jessica Ashman

It excites me to be part of an industry which makes the impossible possible, and reaches out to the hearts and minds of audiences from all walks of life

YEAR OF AWARD: 2012
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.jessla.co.uk/
 
 

Biography

Jessica moved to Edinburgh from the Midlands in 2008, after gaining a coveted place on the Animator Apprenticeship Scheme run by what was then Scottish Screen. She proved herself to be a commited and passionate young animator, with the necessary patience and core skills required to make a career in the artform.

After her apprenticeship, Jessica lived and worked in Glasgow.  She made a name for herself as a freelance director and animator in the film and TV industries.

Jessica’s passion for directing comes from the ability to share stories, experiences and emotions through work on screen.  Her short film Fixing Luka is a stop motion animaton that explores her personal experience of growing up with a younger brother who has autism.  The film went on to win a New Talent BAFTA for Original Score and a Scottish BAFTA for Best Animation in 2011.

Also in 2011, Jessica was commissioned as a writer/director on B3 Media’s Talentlab Programme;  a creative development programme produced in partnership with Skillset and BBC Films.  She received mentor support from top industry professionals and on completion was accepted onto the prestigious MA in Animation at the Royal College of Art.

How the Award Helped

Studying for a masters degree provided a crucial tipping point for Jessica, taking her to the next level of her career.  She received a Dewar Award to enable her to benefit from this opportunity to the full.

Trailer: Fixing Luka

Trailer: Tenderfoot (MA final year film from RCA) 

Back

It excites me to be part of an industry which makes the impossible possible, and reaches out to the hearts and minds of audiences from all walks of life

Back

2012 Awardee: Gillian Park

Completing my Masters degree at the National Film and Television School is my number one priority

YEAR OF AWARD: 2012
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: , , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6353522/
 
 

Biography

Gillian Park is a young screenwriter of exceptional talent and great promise.  She is a natural storyteller with a flair for comedy and a powerful, original voice.  Her work reflects her Scottish background with a warmth, vigour and authenticity, but she is equally able to push outside the confines of her own experience to explore different genres and areas of writing.

Born in Irvine, Gillian left school at 17 to do a HNC in TV Production at Glasgow Metropolitan College.  Whilst there she discovered a passion for writing, and after finishing her course she was accepted on a course of study at the RSAMD (now the RCS).  The short film she wrote and directed there was screened internationally at a number of festivals and went on to win several awards.  She graduated from her degree with first class honours.

After graduating, Gillian began working with a variety of production companies, but her dream was to study screenwriting at the National Film and Television School.  In 2012 she applied with a script set in Scotland and was successful, gaining an outstanding opportunity to hone her craft.  The fees and living costs in London proved challenging, however, and Gillian was awarded a Dewar Arts Award to support her in completing her MA and making the most of the opportunity she had strived for.

Agent: http://www.casarotto.co.uk/client/gillian-park–18650

How the Award Helped

Gillian received a Dewar Arts Award to enable her to complete her masters degree at the National Film and Television School, London.

Since the Award

March 2015 – Nominated for a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award: Writer, Flotsam

Trailer: The Last Resort written by Gillian Park (c) NFTS 2014

Back

Completing my Masters degree at the National Film and Television School is my number one priority

Back

2012 Awardee: Heather Ross

There has been a great deal of progression within my work. From my critical and contextual awareness of the concepts and underlying theories, to a greater engagement with materials; I have established a practice that is continually evolving.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2012
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

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.

How the Award Helped

Heather’s Dewar Award supported her in accepting her place to study at the Chelsea College of Art.

Back

There has been a great deal of progression within my work. From my critical and contextual awareness of the concepts and underlying theories, to a greater engagement with materials; I have established a practice that is continually evolving.

Back

2011 Awardee: Calum Huggan

I would like to thank you for the generous contribution the Dewar Arts Awards have made to support my further studies.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.calumhuggan.com/
EMAIL:calum_huggan@hotmail.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/calumhuggan

Biography

Raised in Lenzie, Calum began studying music at the RSAMD Junior Academy where he was noticed as someone of talent and innate musicality. He went on to study marimba and percussion at RSAMD from where he graduated with a first-class degree.

During his undergraduate years, he won the Governor’s percussion competition in his second year which resulted in recording a solo in the BBC’s “Classics Unwrapped” series. He also spent a year as guest student at the Mannheim Musikhochschule studying solo and chamber music under the direction of Jasmin Kohlberg and Dennis Kuhn.

Calum regularly participates in international competitions and was the only percussionist to reach the semi-finals of the 2011 Royal Overseas League Competition.

Calum was accepted onto the MMus in solo and chamber music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD). He is aiming to build a solo career as a marimbist/percussionist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award supported Calum in studying his masters course in solo and chamber music.

Since the Award

2012

Calum’s passion and commitment has allowed him to perform solo debuts within the major concert houses across the United Kingdom and Germany. He has performed with orchestras such as BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Scottish Opera and Mannheim National Theatre.  He has recently made his international debut as guest principal with Jyvaskyla Sinfonietta in Finland and has performed for Royalty with Flercussion in Abu Dhabi.

As well as being a first class performer, Calum’s passion lies in cross-arts collaborations and teaching.  He is now an active and sought after percussion tutor and workshop leader throughout the UK, a musical and artistic director for several of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Summer Schools and is an accompanist for contemporary dance and theatre.

Reviews:

Glasgow Concert Hall Concert, Guardian Review July 2012
Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Concert, Times Review June 2012
Glasgow Concert Hall Concert, Guardian Review February 2012
Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Concert, Times Review February 2012

2021

In 2020, Calum signed to award-winning record label, Delphian.  He released his debut album in 2021 – American Music for Marimba.

Calum Huggan talks about studying at the RSAMD

Back

I would like to thank you for the generous contribution the Dewar Arts Awards have made to support my further studies.

Back

2011 Awardee: Cheryl McConachie

I can assure you that I will study extremely hard to make the most of this opportunity and cannot thank you enough for this direct contribution to my future

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Born and brought up in Elgin, Cheryl went to school at Elgin Academy where she won the first ‘Star Writer’ award. She went on to do a first degree in English Language and Literature and also gain a Dip HE in Fine Art from the University of the Highlands.

Cheryl’s first love is creative writing and she has aspired to be a writer from a young age. She is now undertaking an MLitt in Creative Writing at St Andrew’s University, where she is considered to be a considerable asset to the writing community.

Her strong, contemporary and richly nuanced voice won her admirers from the outset, and she is thought to have considerable potential as a published writer of the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will support Cheryl through her master’s year on the creative writing course at St Andrew’s University.

Back

I can assure you that I will study extremely hard to make the most of this opportunity and cannot thank you enough for this direct contribution to my future

Back

2011 Awardee: Deborah Rudden

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From East Kilbride, Deborah made her solo debut aged 16 singing with the RNSO in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall. Since a young age she has been involved in music, attending Junior RSNO and Junior RSAMD as well as singing in school choirs and NYCoS. It has been her main ambition to become a professional singer for many years.

Deborah is already a soprano of considerable talent and potential and is poised to become an outstanding dramatic soprano, capable of stage and recital performance. She has already performed extensively at the Edinburgh International Festival, singing with world-famous soprano, Judith Howarth, in Dido & Aeneas in the role of First Witch.

More recently she was awarded the Ian Fleming Award by the MBF and was chosen to represent the RSAMD at the Kathleen Ferrier Award for Young Singers.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Deborah to embark on a MMus in Performance in Vocal Studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly, RSAMD).

Back

Back

2011 Awardee: Hayley Johnson

I would like to thank the Dewar Arts Awards trustees sincerely for helping me

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow-born Hayley is already a seasoned performer. She began dancing at the age of three and by five was winning competition medals and prizes.

By the time she was 10, Hayley became a Junior Associate of the Scottish Ballet, began acting in TV commercials and was a regular on the BBC children’s programme ‘The Saturday Show’.

When she was 11, Hayley auditioned successfully for the Dance School of Scotland and as a pupil there performed in Glasgow’s new Royal Concert Hall and the Theatre Royal.

Unusually for her age, Hayley has been accepted into Bird College, Kent to continue training in dance and theatre performance. She has also been awarded a Dance and Drama Award to cover most of the tuition fees.

At an early age, Hayley had an evident and natural performance quality and excels in both dance and performance. Her teachers anticipate her enjoying great success in her chosen career.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the costs of studying at Bird College.

Back

I would like to thank the Dewar Arts Awards trustees sincerely for helping me

Back

2011 Awardee: Isabella Swietlicki

I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards, whose assistance has made it possible for me to work towards achieving my dream.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 14
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/b_swietlicki

Biography

Isabella is a very gifted dancer with a wonderful natural facility for classical dance and a mature technique.

Brought up near Oban since the age of 4, Isabella started dance classes at Ballet West Taynuilt at the age of 8.  During her time there she passed all of her Royal Academy of Dance vocational grades with distinction.  She also performed in their annual touring productions of ‘The Nutcracker’, ‘Coppelia’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’. In 2011, she was part of a seven-week tour of China, performing the role of Clara as well as understudy for the role of Juliet.

In 2009, Isabella attended the International Summer School at the Royal Ballet School in Richmond. In 2010, she won first place for her level at the Royal Academy of Dance Senior Awards in the prestigious Genee Challenge in Edinburgh.

Isabella has attended a masterclass with Francesca Zumbo of the Paris Opera Ballet, who danced with Rudolf Nureyev when she was young.  She has also had the opportunity to work with and learn from her favourite dancer, Tamara Rojo; Royal Ballet Principal at the Royal Ballet Upper School in Covent Garden.

How the Award Helped

Isabella received a Dewar Arts Awards in 2011 to help her continue her dance studies at Ballet West. She has since received additional awards to support her flourishing talent.

Since the Award

In 2012 Isabella won the Molly Lake Award; a biennial ballet competition for young dancers.  She went on to gain a place at the English National Ballet School, and was granted additional funding from the Dewar Awards to continue her studies there.

Isabella is proving herself to be a dedicated, talented, and a quite exceptional dancer.

2014: Isabella writes “I am loving every moment of my studies at ENBS, and I feel a big difference in my dancing after just one term.  The academic aspect is thorough and rigorous – I thought I knew a lot about ballet until I started this course!  Most weeks, I am able to watch the dress rehearsals of performances by companies such as English National Ballet, Royal Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet.  My ambition is to be a professional ballet dancer, and I believe that I am in an ideal environment in which to train towards my goal.  I love my school, and I know that the staff will constantly challenge me and prepare me as well as is possible for a career in ballet.”

Sept 2014: Bronze Medallist at Genée International Ballet Competition

Back

I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards, whose assistance has made it possible for me to work towards achieving my dream.

Back

2011 Awardee: Jennifer MacCallum

I am hugely grateful to the trust for this award in enabling me to progress with my studies in my chosen field.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born in Alexandra and brought up on the West Coast around Oban and Fort William, Jennifer was a keen musician from an early age. Her High School quartet won its category in the National Chamber Music Competition for 3 consecutive years. She went on to study music at the RWCMD in Cardiff where she was considered to be an extremely gifted musician who stood out from her peers.

During her undergraduate years, Jennifer held placements with the Welsh National Opera for a year and with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for two years.

In both 2009 and 2010, she won the Steinitz Bach Prize and on graduation was awarded both the Peter Esswood Prize for Strings and the Gabb & Co Prize for Chamber Music.

Jennifer is passionate about orchestral playing and has won a place on the Master of Performance in Orchestral Performance programme at the Royal College of Music in London, where she will be a pupil of Simon Rowland-Jones, one of the highest-regarded viola teachers of this generation.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will support Jennifer in the first year of her postgraduate studies.

Back

I am hugely grateful to the trust for this award in enabling me to progress with my studies in my chosen field.

Back