2017 Awardee: Ryan Corbett

I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for their generous support that has enabled me to play on an instrument of the finest quality.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.ryancorbett.com/
 
 

Biography

Ryan is a classical accordionist who has studied at the Music School of Douglas Academy (Milngavie), St Mary’s Music School (Edinburgh) and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Glasgow). Ryan began playing accordion aged eleven and taught himself until he started learning with Djordje Gajic when he was fourteen.

His awards include the Allie Cullen prize for most outstanding performance at the Glasgow Music Festival, the Directors Recital Prize at St Mary’s Music School, second prize at the International Accordion Festival in San Vincenzo (Italy), third prize at the Akkordeonwettbewerb in Klingenthal (Germany) and third prize at the Harbin International Accordion Art Week (China), where he was the youngest competitor to be placed. In 2021, he was the winner of the keyboard category of the Annual Music Competition at the Royal Overseas League in London.

Ryan has given solo concerts at venues including the Berlin Philharmonie, University of Glasgow, Brunton Theatre (Edinburgh Festival), Cannongate Kirk (Edinbach Festival), an all-Baroque programme at the Museu de la Musica de Barcelona (Bachcelona Festival) and at the Jesus-Christus-Kirche Dahlem. His experience as a concerto soloist includes performing Václav Trojan’s ‘Fairytales’ concerto at the Queens Hall, St Mary’s Cathedral, and RCS, recording Bach’s fourth keyboard concerto with the Berliner Symphoniker as part of the Piazzolla centenary celebrations. He also performed as a soloist with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland in June 2022.

As an active chamber musician, he has played duets with violin, viola, cello, flute, piano and voice, and has been invited to play with Red Note Ensemble, Hebrides Ensemble and the Maxwell Quartet. In 2021 he formed an accordion duo with Djordje Gajic, the programme features an arrangement of Stravinsky’s ballet ‘Petrushka’ and Ryan’s own arrangement of Bach Prelude and Fugue in Eb which was described as “musically unified and utterly compelling” (Seen and Heard International). He also arranged a short orchestral piece by Rameau for three Accordions which was performed for HRH Prince Charles during his official visit to the Conservatoire.

How the Award Helped

Ryan’s Award supported his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Since the Award

In 2021, Ryan was the winner of the 2021 ROSL Annual Music Competition Gold Medal. He has also been appointed to the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme for 2022-2024.

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I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for their generous support that has enabled me to play on an instrument of the finest quality.

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2017 Awardee: Rhianne Goldie

Rhianne Goldie

"Being granted the Dewar Award has opened new doors for me. It has given me the opportunity to discover my true passions and interests within the design industry...With this grant I have been relieved of financial stresses, enabling me to focus fully on my education and career."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.instagram.com/rhiannegoldiedesigns/
 
 

Biography

Rhianne completed her undergraduate degree in textile design at the University of Dundee, and at that point felt she was unfinished with her studies. She went on to study an MA in Fashion and Textile Design at Heriot-Watt University.

Initially, Rhianne’s intentions were to enhance and develop her knowledge of heat-sensitive inks on textiles for fashion. She found her focus shifted throughout her studies, and she developed great interest in material exploration.  This led to exploration of worldwide, environmental issues associated with plastic pollution in the ocean.

Working with single-use plastics, Rhianne began to think outside the box and to push the materials to their limits. She utilised pre-existing design techniques to create innovative, body-adorning textiles in order to raise awareness of ocean waste.

How the Award Helped

Rhianne’s Dewar Arts Award supported her masters studies at Heriot-Watt University.

Since the Award

Upon completion of her masters, Rhianne’s university recommended she continue her research further at PhD level.  This prospect encouraged her to push her practice further than she had ever imagined.

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Rhianne Goldie

"Being granted the Dewar Award has opened new doors for me. It has given me the opportunity to discover my true passions and interests within the design industry...With this grant I have been relieved of financial stresses, enabling me to focus fully on my education and career."

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2017 Awardee: Zayn Grieve

"It's honestly so kind as well as encouraging - I always felt that I was on the right path, that music and art was my thing - this just confirms it for me. Thank you. I think it's important to believe in yourself but most importantly to believe in one another."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.dewarawards.org/instagram.com/swvnofficial
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/swvnofficial

Biography

Zayn Grieve, widely known as SWVN “swan“ is a South African born rapper and artist based in South Glasgow. Heavily renowned as one of Scotland’s most versatile creatives and genre defying lyricists, SWVN resonates amongst this new exciting breed.

From a background of UKrap and grime, new up and coming artists are now spearheading the next generation in shaping Britain’s hip hop art culture and music scene.  They have their own authentic sound and style, fueled by honest emotion. Zayn Grieve is a shining example.

Driven and self-motivated, Zayn has overcome adversity to achieve a steady evolution in his progression as an artist. From humble beginnings and years of hard work, he self-funded rehearsal and recording sessions by selling his art, and collaborated with venues to gain a platform. He hosted his own events and delivered outreach to showcase local talent and create positive change, and in turn found the limelight. Perserverence and positivity are his strengths, and have ensured his success as an artist and a champion for new music.

https://www.dewarawards.org/facebook.com/SWVNofficial

How the Award Helped

Zayn’s Award supported him in his development as an artist, providing support and equipment to help him take his talents to the next level.

SWVN official music video for ‘Stay Up’ – Wavvy Music.

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"It's honestly so kind as well as encouraging - I always felt that I was on the right path, that music and art was my thing - this just confirms it for me. Thank you. I think it's important to believe in yourself but most importantly to believe in one another."

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2017 Awardee: Tom Joyes

"The Dewar Arts Award gave me the opportunity to deepen my research practice by participating in a focussed migratory design programme in the Netherlands. I'd like to extend my thanks to the trustees for their amazing support of this."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.tomjoyes.com/
EMAIL:info@tomjoyes.com
 

Biography

Tom is a Glaswegian designer and graduate of Communication Design at the Glasgow School of Art. Working with graphic design, writing and film, his research-driven practice is critically engaged with politics, aesthetics and technology.

In 2016, Tom was nominated for The Glasgow School of Art’s prestigious Newberry Medal and was selected by design magazine It’s Nice That as part of their shortlist of the most influential young design graduates in the UK.

Since then, Tom has spoken and exhibited in Glasgow, London and the Netherlands, notably writing a text about space junk and image archeology for London-based publisher Books From the Future.

In 2017, Tom was offered the opportunity to participate in a pilot MA programme Checkpoints and Chokepoints at ArtEZ Arnhem, Netherlands, exploring the topic of migration in Europe under the tuition of Vinca Kruk (Metahaven). For this, he produced the comic book FUZZY LOGiC Vol.83, described as a ‘technodrama’ about bodies, borders and surveillance set between the layers of global infrastructure.

https://www.instagram.com/born_slippery

How the Award Helped

Tom’s Award supported him in undertaking the experimental, newly-minted post-BA programme ‘Checkpoints and Chokepoints’ at ArtEZ University of The Arts (Arnhem, Netherlands).

FUZZY LOGiC Vol.83

Tom’s portrait by Adam Counihan

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"The Dewar Arts Award gave me the opportunity to deepen my research practice by participating in a focussed migratory design programme in the Netherlands. I'd like to extend my thanks to the trustees for their amazing support of this."

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2017 Awardee: Daniel Stroud

“I am tremendously grateful to receive the Dewar Award as it has made my dream of studying in London possible.”

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Daniel is an exceptionally talented, hard-working and ambitious musician who has always shown great passion for the violin.

Daniel began his studies at the age of nine with Justine Corr at his Primary school in South Queensferry, and then in 2014 he gained a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Department where he studied with Jane Lemoine.

At the Junior Conservatoire, Daniel led both the Symphony Orchestra and the String Ensemble for two years. He received Highly Commended in the Nan Christie String Prize in 2015 and in 2016 was runner up in the Concerto Competition.

Daniel performs regularly as a soloist. He has won the Waddell Medal in the Edinburgh Competition Festival and has given a solo recital at the Scottish Parliament for the First Ministers Portrait Exhibition. He has performed alongside Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham having been asked to arrange one of Phil Cunningham’s compositions.

Daniel has been a member of the first violin section of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, has performed at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, and in 2016 he co-led the Arts and Film Orchestra, performing the score to the 1927 silent film ’IT’ at the ISME Conference in Glasgow with Patrick Doyle.

In 2017, Daniel won a scholarship to study violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Philippe Honoré.

How the Award Helped

Daniel received an Award to support his musical studies on the four-year BMus (Hons) at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and his ambition to become a soloist and leader of a professional orchestra.

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“I am tremendously grateful to receive the Dewar Award as it has made my dream of studying in London possible.”

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2017 Awardee: Christiana Bissett

"Because of the Dewar Arts Award I am privileged to be exploring my practice in a new and exciting masters, as well as engaging in an international dialogue about art and ecology."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://thedoinggroup.com/
EMAIL:christiana@thedoinggroup.com
 

Biography

Christiana is a Glaswegian artist, with a research practice in aesthetics and ecology. Using performance methodology her work explores how we perceive environment and how this perception impacts our imagined futures.

After making and touring award winning work with company Junction 25 from a young age, Christiana studied performance theory at the University of Glasgow. During this time she developed a clear interest in the urban environment, and created site based and politically engaged work programmed by the CCA as part of Unfix Festival of Ecology and Performance and at The Arches as part of Arches Live:Scratch.

With six other students in the department, Christiana founded The Doing Group, a collective response to the tradition of reading groups, experimenting with the potentialities of ‘doing’. Since their beginnings two years ago The Doing Group’s work has been shown in the Pollokshields Playhouse and CCA in Glasgow, as well as at Temporary in Helsinki. The group’s research has been supported by the Alistair Cameron Scholarship and presented in a Spaces of Exile Symposium in Tramway Glasgow.

https://cargocollective.com/christiana

How the Award Helped

Christiana’s Award supported her as one of six artists participating in a pilot MA in Ecology and Contemporary Performance at Helsinki’s University of the Arts. With an overarching question of ‘What is Performance Now?’, the students received mentoring from artists Kira O’Reilly and Tuija Kokkonen.

Christiana’s research explores how bodies and materials interact in the practice of water dowsing, and how neurodiverse subjects experience their surroundings.

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"Because of the Dewar Arts Award I am privileged to be exploring my practice in a new and exciting masters, as well as engaging in an international dialogue about art and ecology."

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2017 Awardee: Sophie Williams

“My award will allow me to focus on shaping myself and my future to become the musician I aspire to be...I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for making my dream possible!”

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://encoremusicians.com/Sophie-Williams-Violinist
 
 

Biography

Born in Edinburgh, Sophie Williams began learning violin at the age of three. In 2009 she gained a place at St. Mary’s Music School, where she proved herself to be an outstanding violinist and a highly sensitive musician.  She won a host of chamber music and string prizes, as well as several medals from the Edinburgh Competition Festival.

A keen ensemble player, Sophie has performed widely throughout the UK including several concerts in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  She has played an active role in the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, and was invited to perform at the BBC Proms with the Symphony Orchestra.

Sophie has a formidable work ethic and has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities.  She has been a leader of the NYOS Senior Orchestra, and throughout her final year at St. Mary’s led the school’s orchestra and string ensembles.

In 2016, Sophie successfully attained places at four music conservatoires around the UK.  She chose to continue her studies at the prestigious Royal College of Music, London.

How the Award Helped

Sophie’s award provided support for her studies at the Royal College of Music, affording her the freedom to fully apply herself to developing her exceptional skills as a musician.

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“My award will allow me to focus on shaping myself and my future to become the musician I aspire to be...I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for making my dream possible!”

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2017 Awardee: Calum Paterson

"I feel very honoured and privileged that the Dewar Arts Awards have decided to support my talent."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: , , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.calumpaterson.co.uk/
 
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/calumpaterson89

Biography

Calum Paterson is a sound designer, composer and theatre artist of exceptional talent.  When working on a production, he shows rigorous commitment to the ideas of the team, as well as contributing true flair, imagination and innovation.

A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Calum has worked extensively across Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond.  After designing the sound for a sell-out run of ‘Chess The Musical’ at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, he was hailed as a ‘rising star of the creative industries’ by The Lighting and Sound Industry Magazine.

Calum made his Off West End of London debut, as Sound No.1 for ‘Working A Musical’ at the Southwark Playhouse. The show received three nominations for Offies Awards including Best Musical Production.

Outside of theatre, Calum can be found producing music and sound for a variety of new media, including voiceovers and sound effects for film, tv and radio.

How the Award Helped

Calum’s Award allowed him to purchase essential new equipment, enabling him to develop his artistic form, create new and exciting work with collaborators across the UK, and offer an even greater range of sound design and compositional services.

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"I feel very honoured and privileged that the Dewar Arts Awards have decided to support my talent."

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2017 Awardee: Jack Nurse

"I am delighted and honoured to receive this award...allowing me to put this learning into practice and develop my individual director’s craft."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.jacknurse.com/
EMAIL:jack@wonderfools.org
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/jackfnurse

Biography

Jack Nurse is a talented, creative and hard working director and theatre maker.

Brought up in Dumfries & Galloway, Jack studied Contemporary Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before going on to co-found the Glasgow theatre company Wonder Fools.

Wonder Fools create new work based on current and historical real-life stories, which Jack directs. Their varied and dynamic programme explores different forms – verbatim theatre, historical theatre, participatory performance, performance installations – in tandem with wide-ranging subject matter.

The company quickly became one of six Graduate Emerging Companies on attachment at the New Diorama Theatre, London, and Jack gained membership of the Almeida Theatre’s Resident Director Network as one of ten emerging directors.

The company’s work has been performed across the country, in venues including Tron, Traverse Theatre, Macrobert Arts Centre, New Wolsey Theatre, Camden People’s Theatre, New Diorama, and Citizens Theatre.

As an assistant director, Jack’s credits include This Restless House (Citizens Theatre/National Theatre of Scotland), Blackbird (Citizens Theatre), The Winter’s Tale (Royal Lyceum), Hay Fever (Royal Lyceum/Citizens Theatre) and The Broons (Selladoor) for which he was also Staff Director on its Scottish tour.

How the Award Helped

Jack’s Award gave him the invaluable opportunity to direct a professional production at the Citizens Theatre; the culmination of his training there as an assistant director.

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"I am delighted and honoured to receive this award...allowing me to put this learning into practice and develop my individual director’s craft."

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2017 Awardee: Ali Watson

"I am extremely grateful for my Dewar Arts Award."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from the North Coast of Scotland, Ali went to school in Bearsden.  He discovered his passion for jazz while playing bass with the East Dunbartonshire Schools Jazz Orchestra, and was taught classical double bass and jazz double bass at the RCS Junior Conservatoire as a scholarship student.  In his sixth year of school he joined the Music School of Douglas Academy where he had classical lessons.

Ali has played with ensembles including the Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra (conducted by former Dewar Arts Awardee Alan Benzie), the Play On orchestra, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland at the BBC Proms, and a NYJOS Futures collaboration.

Described as a ‘truly special musician’ by his tutors, Ali combines a natural affinity for music with a genuine passion and exceptional skillset.  His ambition is to become one of the top jazz bass players in the UK and to play in a world-class contemporary ensemble.

“In twenty years of jazz education I have rarely come across a student as talented and diligent as Ali” – Tutor, Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

How the Award Helped

Ali’s Award supported him in developing his talents further, through a new instrument and study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

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"I am extremely grateful for my Dewar Arts Award."

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