2018 Awardee: Laura Wilson

"I feel extremely grateful to be supported by the Dewar Arts Awards...it has given me a further boost of motivation and determination to develop as a musician and therapist."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Laura began her musical journey aged five, learning piano with her grandmother. She soon began immersing herself in the classical world further, studying the viola and flute. This led her to continue her education at St. Mary’s Music School.

Laura was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (RNCM). Here, she performed and learned with some of the world’s leading musicians, including the resident orchestra for the Montepulciano Arts Festival in 2012 and 2013.

Afrer graduating, Laura worked as a freelance viola player across the UK and Europe, playing with a number of different ensembles. She became engaged in international charitable work, providing musical respite for vulnerable individuals.  This inspired her to share her music with a range of audiences, and so she travelled around the world busking with her viola.

Laura believes that music speaks to everybody. She continues to expand her musical boundaries by pushing herself out of her comfort zone as often as possible. She performs in a range of settings – from nursing homes, community centres, bars and cafes, exploring ways to engage audiences outside of the classical spectrum.  She also records samples for music producers and DJs.

Laura’s work volunteering for charities led her to become a music therapist. She has since seen the benefits of her work in Romania and Bulgaria. She is driven to help people through a therapeutic relationship with music, and aims to share her knowledge with people who are vulnerable in society.  She aims to work in settings such as prisons, with refugees, and in countries that have suffered as a result of war.

Having chosen to undertake formal qualifications in music therapy, Laura aims to use her skills in creative and imaginative ways. She feels confident that she has embarked on the right path, and that Music Therapy will continue to direct her passion, energy and focus.

How the Award Helped

Laura’s Award supported her in studing an MA in Music Therapy at the University of the West of England.

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"I feel extremely grateful to be supported by the Dewar Arts Awards...it has given me a further boost of motivation and determination to develop as a musician and therapist."

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2018 Awardee: Ruth Gilmour

"The Dewar Arts Award has provided me with great creative freedom and an ability to experiment with material thoroughly. I am honored to be represented by an organisation admired for supporting the development of young Scottish artists."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.ruthelviragilmour.com/
EMAIL:hello@ruthelviragilmour.com
 

Biography

Ruth is a cross-disciplinary artist from Glasgow who works with material alongside a deeply embedded mode of research to challenge conceptions of the body and its sense of place.

After graduating with a first class Honors degree from Glasgow School of Art in 2017 with her project ‘Nothing is Solid’, Ruth was represented at a number of different graduate showcases in the UK and exhibited at North Lands Creative and Ruthin Craft Centre.

Ruth was invited to undertake a 9 month residency at DSKD in Denmark, where she made ‘Material Bodies’, a project that was exhibited at DSKD and later at New Glasgow Society.

In 2018, Ruth was accepted for a Master of Fine Arts in Sweden. She went on to be selected to represent the Academy at The Stockholm Design Week and invited to Milan Design Week to exhibit with Svensk Form.

How the Award Helped

Ruth was nominated for her Award by Jonathan Boyd – her tutor at Glasgow School of Art and a previous Dewar Arts Award recipient. The Award supported Ruth’s studies at the presitigious HDK in Gothenburg, Sweden.

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"The Dewar Arts Award has provided me with great creative freedom and an ability to experiment with material thoroughly. I am honored to be represented by an organisation admired for supporting the development of young Scottish artists."

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2018 Awardee: Aidan Teplitzky

"I cannot describe how grateful and appreciative I am to receive such support from the Dewar Arts Awards. Without their incredible generosity, I would not have been able to continue my studies...it means the world to me that they saw value in my work and were willing to support me and my artistic development. I cannot thank them enough"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/aidan_teplitzky

Biography

Aidan was born in Australia and was raised in his parents’ restaurant in Sydney before moving to Scotland at age 4. He began learning music on his ‘fluorescent green recorder’ at age 6, and went on to learn the saxophone, piano and double bass, all of which he performed on as a student at the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It was here that he came to find an interest in composition under the tutelage of Audrey McPherson and Gareth Williams, which he then pursued by studying at the RCS under Dr Gordon McPherson.

Aidan has worked with organisations including the BBC SSO, the SCO, RCS MusicLab, the Glasgow New Music Expedition, the Glasgow Barons Orchestra, the Brodick Quartet and has worked with world-renowned performers Sinae Lee, Pascal Gallois, and traditional singer/songwriter Ainsley Hamill. Aidan is also an associate member of the LSO’s Soundhub and is the artistic director for the new music ensemble, The Hadit Collective.

Current projects include writing “Moving On”, a new work for Sinfonietta as part of winning the Craig Armstrong Prize in Composition from the RCS, planning a number of new concerts for The Hadit Collective, and working as the composer for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s production of A Midsummer Nights Dream directed by Ali De Souza.

Aidan is interested in drag, identity and pop culture.

How the Award Helped

Aidan’s Dewar Arts Award supported his postgraduate studies – an MMus in Composition – at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He writes:

“As an artist I want to make work that expresses my identity and can make people feel that they are not alone. Within my time studying at the RCS, I have come to understand my personal artistic voice and have begun intensively exploring the reasons why I write, the nature of my compositional language and how I can enable this greater sense of depth within my artistry.”

Since the Award

Update 2020:

Aidan continued to flourish at the RCS, and also took on the role of vice-president of the RCS Student’s Union.

Update 2024:

Aidan is currently completing an AHRC funded PhD at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire exploring working-class identity and experience in new interdisciplinary compositions.

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"I cannot describe how grateful and appreciative I am to receive such support from the Dewar Arts Awards. Without their incredible generosity, I would not have been able to continue my studies...it means the world to me that they saw value in my work and were willing to support me and my artistic development. I cannot thank them enough"

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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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