2008 Awardee: Shian Blackwood

I’d like to thank you very much for the offer of the award!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Shian Blackwood from Dunscore, near Dumfries, has been studying clàrsach for six years. In 2003 she was awarded the junior trophy for harp playing in the Dumfries Music Festival. In 2006 she received a Dewar Arts Award to buy an electric harp.

Shian is currently studying music at Stevenson College in Edinburgh. She writes: “The electric harp you so kindly granted me funding for has helped me advance in my studies and personal abilities as a player.” She has studied with our own Maeve Gilchrist, one of the first Dewar Arts Awardees.

Shian reached the point where she needed to upgrade her acoustic harp. Rather than ask us for money to buy a new one, she has asked for funding to go on a course to build her own 33-stringed acoustic harp. We were delighted to help and look forward to hearing the Bohemian harp she hopes to build under the tutelage of Christoph Locherbach from Southern Germany.

How the Award Helped

In 2006, Shian received an award to purchase an electric harp. In 2008, she received an award to attend a harp-making course which resulted in her making her own acoustic harp.

Back

I’d like to thank you very much for the offer of the award!

Back

2008 Awardee: Sophie Neil

I can’t thank you enough for granting me a Dewar Arts Award, enabling me to take up a coveted place at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Fife-born Sophie Neil studied drama and theatre arts at Goldsmiths College, London after leaving school. She went on to gain an MA with distinction in Scenography (Theatre Design) at the Central School of Speech and Drama also in London.

Since then Sophie has worked as a scenographer for live performance at various venues including the New South Bank Centre, the Siobhan Davis Studios and Glyndebourne. Her ultimate ambition was to study at the world-renowned National Film and Television School, which would open up wider opportunities to work in film and television as a Production Designer.

Sophie successfully beat off stiff competition from around the world to be one of only eight students accepted onto the course in 2008. She is seen as a talented and sensitive designer, and her entrance project for NFTS both intrigued and delighted the selection panel demonstrating that she would bring new ideas to designing for the screen.

One of Sophie’s secret ambitions is to design for a future Olympics.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Sophie financially through the course in Production Design for Screen at the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

Since the Award

Sophie successfully graduated with an MA in Production Design, gaining a distinction on her dissertation entitled ‘Emptiness’. She writes that her time at NFTS “has inevitably changed my skills and my prospects beyond measure.”

Sophie has been in continuous employment since leaving NFTS, first on the set of “Bel Ami”, due for release in 2011, and currently as an Assistant Art Director with established designer, Peter Bingemann. Sophie’s animation graduate project “The Boy who wanted to be a Lion” was selected for the Short Film Competition at Critics’ Week at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

Back

I can’t thank you enough for granting me a Dewar Arts Award, enabling me to take up a coveted place at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.

Back

2008 Awardee: Stephanie Irvine

We are very grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for the confidence they have shown in Stephanie. It has given her a real boost. (Sally Beamish, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 12
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Twelve-year old Stephanie from Gartmore is both a strong singer and extremely talented clàrsach player. She has already recorded a Burns song for use on the soundtrack of ITV’s South Bank Show, and she sang the role of Catriona in Shenachie in the Highland Quest finals broadcast on BBC TV.

From the start Stephanie displayed a natural talent for clàrsach playing far above average for her age. She is involved in a number of groups at her school and participates in the school orchestra, playing challenging parts especially arranged for the harp.

Stephanie is also interested in composing, developing arrangement ideas and is a natural communicator through her music. She is a talent to watch out for in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped Stephanie to purchase a professional harp to help her development as a musician.

Since the Award

Stephanie writes that since getting her new harp, a Starfish ‘Glencoe’ model, the difference in the sound her playing makes is “incredible” and that having her own instrument has helped her to have “a greater sense of my own musical identity”. Stephanie plays in her school orchestra, performed at the official opening of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Visitor Centre and at the opening of her own school new building.

Back

We are very grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for the confidence they have shown in Stephanie. It has given her a real boost. (Sally Beamish, mother)

Back

2008 Awardee: Victoria Armstrong

I am sincerely grateful to the trustees for granting me this award for my exchange to Cal Arts, Los Angeles.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Ireland, Victoria Armstrong moved to Glasgow to study drama at RSAMD, where she quickly impressed as an intelligent and compelling acting talent.

Before going on to higher education, Victoria was part of the ‘Rainbow Factory’ drama group in Belfast for five years where she was able to communicate her skills and love of acting to young people. Victoria is considered to be an exciting actor, able to create convincing performances and always willing to explore new possibilities.

Victoria was selected to take part in an exchange programme with Cal Arts, Los Angeles which involved spending 3 months at Cal Arts in early 2008. Victoria describes it as ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and not one that I am ever likely to get again’.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award provided funding to enable Victoria to spend 3 months at Cal Arts College.

Since the Award

Victoria worked with a number of directors, actors and writers at Cal Arts and benefited from working with American texts in America. She writes that the main benefit of spending time at Cal Arts was that “it gave me the opportunity to experience different theatre training. I was able to ….learn a lot about the theatre community there and how differently American actors are trained.”

Back

I am sincerely grateful to the trustees for granting me this award for my exchange to Cal Arts, Los Angeles.

Back

2008 Awardee: Wui Man (Raymond) Yui

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 15
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Wui Man (also known as Raymond) is a gifted pianist who moved to Aberdeen with his mother in the early 2000’s. Having no piano to use at home, Raymond would practise at school, and even during the holidays he continued to pracise there for hours every day.

Raymond audition for the Aberdeen City Music School, and at his audition he impressed the board with his considerable music potential and impressive motivation.  He was accepted as a student, allowing him to dedicate himself to his passion and talents.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards supported Raymond in his studies at the Aberdeen City School of music. He lived there as a boarder and was able to practise piano at any time.  This enabled him to quickly develop his skills, both in music and in his spoken English.

Since the Award

Raymond made his concerto debut with the Meadows Chamber Orchestra in Edinburgh in 2010. Crowned as the Aberdeen Young Musician of the Year 2011, he performed concertos with various orchestras in Scotland. He has given recitals at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, and during his studies at ACMS he performed with a jazz band in venues such as the Blue Lamp, and the Edinburgh Jazz Bar.

Raymond has gone on to study at the Guildhall School of Music, and has received additional support from the Awards to facilitate his continued success.  He has won the Springboard Concerto Competition, leading to engagements with the Brighton Youth Orchestra. He continues to go from strength to strength and has a bright career ahead of him.

Back

Back

2008 Awardee: Aidan Crosbie

Aidan was truly thrilled about the award. (Suzanne Crosbie, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 12
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glaswegian Aidan Crosbie comes from a musical background, with both brother and cousins playing Scottish and Irish traditional music to a high level. Aidan started playing traditional music at the age of six when he joined Comhaltas, playing banjo, whistle and drums. Playing with his sibling and cousins in professional bands and groups around Scotland, Aidan quickly developed confidence performing at school, charity events and festivals including prestigious events such as Celtic Connections.

Aidan regularly enters music competitions, in 2004 coming second and in 2007 winning the All Britain Fleadh for both banjo and drums.

Aidan is considered to be a very talented young musician. He plays with excellent technique combined with a musicality and maturity beyond his years. He is dedicated to his music making and this dedication and enjoyment shines through his playing.  His aim is to study for a degree in traditional music at the RSAMD and already has the talent and drive to blossom into a very fine Scottish musician.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Aidan to buy a professional banjo of the quality he set his heart on.

Since the Award

Aidan writes, “Since receiving the Daughter of Dewar Award, my musicianship has improved enormously – I have benefited from top class tutoring, I enjoy my banjo playing much more, and am delighted at the positive feedback I receive.”

Since buying a new banjo, Aidan has had much success in competitions. In 2009 he won first place at the Glasgow and Scottish Fleadh’s in solo, duet and trio categories and also in duet and trio in the All Britain Fleadh, all of which qualified him to compete in the All Ireland Fleadh in August 2009.

Back

Aidan was truly thrilled about the award. (Suzanne Crosbie, mother)

Back

2008 Awardee: James Harrison

This will help me [towards] working in the Scottish film industry, by giving me training in areas that I would be unable to obtain in Scotland

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

James has always wanted to work in films, behind the camera as a director of photography.

Born in England, James moved to Glasgow with his family as a young boy aged eight. He was one of the first students on the new degree course at the RSAMD in digital film and TV production, from where he graduated with a first.

While he was a student, he also worked in the department looking after the digital film and audio equipment. This additional responsibility brought him into contact with a wide range of people and organisations in the industry.

James’ next step after RSAMD is to attend a number of short training programmes at the National Film and TV School in Beaconsfield which are designed to mould high quality entrants into the film and television industries. They will provide him with the essential practical skills he needs in order to break into this highly-competitive industry.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funds James to attend a number of short programmes run by the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

Back

This will help me [towards] working in the Scottish film industry, by giving me training in areas that I would be unable to obtain in Scotland

Back