2013 Awardee: Marianne Wilson

I am passionate about art and design, and my life and work are orientated around my practice

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.m-w-x.com/
EMAIL:marianne@m-w-x.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Marianne_MWX

Biography

After growing up in Glasgow, Marianne moved to Aberdeen in 2009 to study at Gray’s School of Art.  She completed a BA (Hons) in Photographic and Electronic Media and achieved a first class degree.  After graduating, Marianne returned to Glasgow and set up practice as a self-employed visual artist.

To complement her development as a commercial artist, Marianne successfully applied for a masters course in Communication Design at the Glasgow School of Art. This offered the ideal combination of academic support, skills development and portfolio building necessary to take Marianne to the next stage of her career in the creative industries.

https://vimeo.com/user18290780

How the Award Helped

Marianne’s Award enabled her to accept her place on the Masters in Communication Design course at the Glasgow School of Art.

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I am passionate about art and design, and my life and work are orientated around my practice

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2013 Awardee: Meredith Kiemer

"Meredith's playing has a sparkle and charisma that is very rare in someone so young. She is a most promising young musician." RCS

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 8
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

When Meredith auditioned on violin and piano for the Pre-Junior Academy at the RCS, she was just eight years old and one of their youngest auditionees.  In spite of this, she impressed the panel greatly with her flair, competence and maturity and gained the joint highest mark of all entrants.

Meredith hails from a remote area of Stirlingshire, near Aberfoyle.  Having started music lessons at a young age while attending the Glasgow Gaelic School, she showed natural talent and ability but was sadly unable to continue her studies due to the significant travel involved.

After moving to a local school where music lessons were not available, Meredith practised determinedly at home.  Her her love and passion for music, and for the violin in particular, ensured she remained committed to developing her skills.  With only occasional tuition to top up her learning she achieved an outstanding level of playing, which then earned her a place at the RCS.

How the Award Helped

Meredith’s Dewar Award covered her transport costs to Glasgow and supported her in her studies at the RCS, allowing her to access the prestigious tuition she had earned and deserved.

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"Meredith's playing has a sparkle and charisma that is very rare in someone so young. She is a most promising young musician." RCS

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2013 Awardee: Rebecca Wilcox

Participating in this residency will give me a much needed period to focus and develop my practice.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 28
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

After moving to Scotland to complete a BA(hons) in Sculpture and Environmental Art, Rebecca stayed on to complete an MRes (Master of Research in Creative Studies).  She has since continued to develop her practice as an artist and has been an active contributer to the arts in Glasgow.

Rebecca has organised and curated a number of exhibitions, including presentations at the Glasgow International Festival and the CCA: Centre for Contemporary Arts.  She served for two years on the committee of Transmission Gallery and has worked for Art in Hospital, an organisation providing art programmes in a variety of healthcare settings.

Considered by the CCA to be “one of the most outstanding young artists working in Scotland today”, Rebecca’s work is described as intelligent and thoughtful with a consistent generosity towards her audience.

How the Award Helped

Rebecca received an award to support her in a prestigious six-week residency opportunity at the Banff Centre, Canada.

The residency is considered one of the best programmes internationally.  It was conceived by Will Holder, and has input from other esteemed artists, critics, curators and musicians including David Reinfurt (of Dexter Sinister) and Richard Birkett (of Artist\’s Space New York).

Through intensive workshops, discussion and studio time, the residency will allow Rebecca to investigate documentation, publishing, and improvisation as ways of approaching the creation of new works, as well as revisiting existing works.  This will provide an immense boost to Rebecca’s practice and enable her to interact with other artists and thinkers of the highest calibre.

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Participating in this residency will give me a much needed period to focus and develop my practice.

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2013 Awardee: Ross Brown

Gaining assistance from the Dewar Arts award will be a major factor in the realisation of this project, allowing me to make the most of this important opportunity to exhibit at a national level at this early stage in my career.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Ross grew up in Clackmannanshire, in the Central Lowlands.  He moved to Dundee to study at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, where he received a first class BA(Hons) in Fine Art in 2008 and a Masters of Fine Art with Distinction in 2010.

Now living in Edinburgh, Ross is represented by the EB&Flow Gallery in London.  Over the past two years he has exhbited at a number of shows and has garnered praise from prestigious institutions such as the Royal Scottish Academy and Saatchi Gallery, as well as from private collectors.  He has earned a reputation as being a truly talented painter with a promising career ahead of him.

How the Award Helped

Ross has received a Dewar Arts Award to help him realise his ambitions for his first solo show.

Inspired by his work exploring the derelict St Peter’s Seminary in Glasgow, Ross will create a new series of 10 to 12 large scale paintings.  The solo show will take place at the EB&Flow Gallery in Shoreditch, London.

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Gaining assistance from the Dewar Arts award will be a major factor in the realisation of this project, allowing me to make the most of this important opportunity to exhibit at a national level at this early stage in my career.

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2013 Awardee: Ross Hodgkinson

Without help from the Dewar Awards I would not have been blessed with the opportunity to study at one of the world's most renowned contemporary music schools... I have developed, both in terms of my musicianship and as a person, and for this I am very grateful.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.rosshodgkinson.com/
EMAIL:rosshodgkinson@me.com
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/rosshodgkinson

Biography

Hailing from Stonehaven, Ross grew up in a musical family.  His parents enrolled him in drum tuition from the age of nine and his sister also earned a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Over the last 8 years Ross has tackled various genres of music including Scottish Dance, Orchestral, Musical Theatre, Jazz & Pop.  He became the youngest lead drummer ever to play in an army pipe band and performed across Europe.  Joining the South Aberdeenshire Music Centre (SAMC) Big Band lit a fire inside Ross for jazz.  He went on to become a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, participating in several tours with special guests.

Ross was awarded the 17 & Under Young Scottish Jazz Musician Of The Year Award in 2012.  He went on to gain a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, Boston.

Ross has shown that he has the drive, talent and ability required to succeed in studying at the highest level. His tutors feel he has the potential to develop into a very creative and exciting musician.  His ambition is to become a leading musician in a variety of styles.

How the Award Helped

Ross gained a Dewar Arts Award to support him in his studies at Berklee College of Music.

Since the Award

2012 – Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year (17 & Under)

2014 – Ross has successfully completed his first semester of Berklee.  So far he has been fortunate enough to study with renowned drummer Bob Gullotti (JJ Johnson, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano) and Grammy Award winning Mark Walker.

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Without help from the Dewar Awards I would not have been blessed with the opportunity to study at one of the world's most renowned contemporary music schools... I have developed, both in terms of my musicianship and as a person, and for this I am very grateful.

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2013 Awardee: Brandon Brown

My award means everything to me. It is allowing me to do what I thought I would never do.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.facebook.com/brandonbrownguitarist
 
 

Biography

Brandon’s guitar teacher describes him as “the most talented and able student I have eveer seen in over 20 years teaching”.

After starting to play the guitar at the age of 8, Brandon quickly progressed.  He says “it was all that I could think about”.  He has since gained a 92% distinction in his Grade 8 guitar exam (at just 15), and has played in the finals of numerous music competitions including the Edinburgh Guitar and Music Festival.

At 16 he became one of the youngest players ever to gain a scholarship to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.

https://www.youtube.com/gibsonsgmadness

How the Award Helped

Brandon’s award will help to fund his studies at Berklee.

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My award means everything to me. It is allowing me to do what I thought I would never do.

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2013 Awardee: Nadina Valenti

I am thrilled to have won a place at "Central School of Ballet" where I can develop my full potential. This would not be possible without the invaluable support from the Dewar Awards. Thank you.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 15
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Nadina is a very gifted and dedicated young dancer with exceptional talent. She started ballet lessons in her hometown of Wemyss Bay at the age of three, and in 2008 she was offered a place at the Scottish Ballet as a Junior Associate.  She went on to achieve a place at the Dance School of Scotland in Glasgow.

During her time at the Dance School she gained distinctions in all her vocational ballet exams, won a Scholarship and Commendation at Dance Summer Schools and achieved a place as a semi-finalist at the Royal Academy of Dance Genée International Ballet Competition 2013.  She also featured in the Dance School’s annual performances in the Kings Theatre and Theatre Royal Glasgow.

In 2013 Nadina successfully auditioned for the prestigious Central School of Ballet in London, gaining a place on their BA(Hons) course in Professional Dance and Performance.

How the Award Helped

Nadina received a Dewar Arts Award to support her studies at the Central School of Ballet.

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I am thrilled to have won a place at "Central School of Ballet" where I can develop my full potential. This would not be possible without the invaluable support from the Dewar Awards. Thank you.

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2013 Awardee: Sylvia Law

I am extremely grateful for receiving the Dewar Arts Awards’ support as it has enabled me to develop and pursue my artistic practice and fulfil all of my creative ambitions as a sound artist.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.sylvia-law.com/
EMAIL:sylviasounds@gmail.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/sylvy09

Biography

Born in Edinburgh to a Scottish father and Spanish mother, Sylvia describes herself as bilingual, with a rich cultural upbringing and strong sense of identity.

Whilst studying at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Sylvia was recognised as an artist of outstanding ambition, determination and ability, whose work demonstrated an unusual level of originality.  In 2012, she graduated with a BA(Hons) in Time Based Art & Digital Film and went on to gain the RSA John Kinross Scholarship to embark on a two-month residency in Florence. She spent this time exploring the relationship between sound and space in different architectural locations.  The resulting work was presented at the RSA New Contemporaries 2013 exhibition, which showcases the finest emerging artistic talent in Scotland.

To develop her practice further, Sylvia gained a place on the MA in Sound Arts at the London College of Communication.  Her work encompasses the mediums of sound, spatial installation and site-specific performance, working closely with the human voice to capture and interact with space.

Through her work overseas, Sylvia has proved herself to be a strong ambassador for Scottish arts who is confident and receptive to other cultures.

How the Award Helped

Sylvia received support to help her create ambitious new works for the RSA New Contemporaries exhibition, and for her masters studies.

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I am extremely grateful for receiving the Dewar Arts Awards’ support as it has enabled me to develop and pursue my artistic practice and fulfil all of my creative ambitions as a sound artist.

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2013 Awardee: Morwenna Darwell

I feel humbled by the support I have received from the Dewar Arts Awards. The grant has allowed me to take full advantage of my time at The Royal College of Art. Your support went way beyond my expectation, something I feel deeply grateful for.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://cargocollective.com/morwennadarwell
EMAIL:morwenna_darwell@hotmail.co.uk
 

Biography

Morwenna had an unusual childhood, growing up on a vibrant community farm in Dumfries & Galloway, where her family lived with and supported adults with learning difficulties.  Morwenna describes this as a busy and rich environment where she was able to roam freely around the farm and its many creative workshops.

Attracted by the glamour of fashion, Morwenna aspired to become a fashion designer from the age of 10.  She completed a foundation course at the Leith School of Art and then gained a First Class Honors in Fashion from the Edinburgh College of Art.

Morwenna has demonstrated an outstanding ability and talent through her studies and placements, and has won numerous awards for her work.  Her ambition is to become part of a design team at a design house, and ultimately to set up her own label.  She has been described as a ‘name to watch’ for the future of fashion.

How the Award Helped

Morwenna received a Dewar Arts Award to support her in undertaking a two year ‘Masters in Fashion Womenswear’ course at the Royal Collage of Art.

Since the Award

June 2013 – David Band Textile Award (2nd Prize)

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I feel humbled by the support I have received from the Dewar Arts Awards. The grant has allowed me to take full advantage of my time at The Royal College of Art. Your support went way beyond my expectation, something I feel deeply grateful for.

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2013 Awardee: Steaphanaidh Chaimbeul

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.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2013
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born and raised on the Isle of Skye, Steaphanaidh grew up in a large family immersed in Gaelic music and culture. Her parents are both freelance artists, her father being a Gaelic writer and her mother a sculptor.

In 2006, Steaphanaidh became an instrumental pupil at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, studying the clarsach, clarinet, saxophone and Gaelic singing.  Her tutors included Helen Macleod, Catriona McKay and Patsy Seddon. In 2010 she was encouraged to start exploring the pedal harp and was immediately struck by the musical and tonal possibilities she found the instrument could deliver.

Steaphanaidh has played at Celtic Connections with the band Kilairum, at festivals at home and abroad, and on tour with youth orchestras and on the Feis Rois Trad Trail.  In 2010 and 2011 she was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards and a semi-finalist at the 2011 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.

Steaphanidh is extremely passionate about music and enjoys exploring different genres and instruments, which she feels feeds creativity and spontaneity back into her harp playing.  She writes:

“What I have discovered is that music is always contemporary, no matter how ancient the instrument: the desire of all musicians at all times was (and remains) to articulate the world in which they live.  The harp and clarsach do that for me.”

How the Award Helped

Steaphanidh gained a place at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, studying harp under the tutorship of Eira Lynn-Jones.  She was granted an award to support her studies.

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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.

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