2006 Awardee: Claire Wheeldon

I am ecstatic, and cannot thank the trustees enough! It will make an incredible difference to the year ahead

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Claire graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a first-class degree. While at art college she won two achievement prizes and was the first student winner of the prestigious Schweppes Award (formerly: John Kobal Portrait Award).

In 2002 she was the youngest artist commissioned to create artwork for the Scottish Parliament, producing a stunning series of photographs entitled Inclusion.

After working as a freelance photographer – one of her commissions was to photograph the former director of the National Portrait Gallery, Charles Saumerez Smith, and the staff of the gallery – she won a place on the Masters course in Fine Art Photography at the Royal College of Art, London.

Claire, who was brought up in Broomhill in Glasgow, is an extremely talented photographer who has already won admiration and notice for her work.

She has recently been commissioned by the charity Make Poverty History to travel overseas to produce work for their Poverty Ticker Screensaver project.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will go towards Claire’s tuition fees and photographic expenses.

Since the Award

Claire successfully gained an MA in Photography.

She writes that “in the desire to break from my previous working practice and find new ways of working, I branched into video as a way of exploring my ideas and concerns. I found this very challenging, as it was a break in the control and direction I had previously employed in my work.”

One of Claire’s videos, ‘Samantha Singing’ was shown in the monumental 150th anniversary of all the South Kensington cultural and education institutions, from the V&A Museum to the RCA. The two-week exhibition had over 10,000 visitors. Subsequently, Claire was invited to show her video at the ‘Late at Tate’ event at Tate Britain, alongside artist Bruce McLean and human rights activist, Peter Tatchell. Claire’s video of ‘Samantha Singing’ was also shown at the Dewar Arts Award 10th anniversary Showcase, much to everyone’s evident enjoyment.

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I am ecstatic, and cannot thank the trustees enough! It will make an incredible difference to the year ahead

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2006 Awardee: Connor Oldroyd

Connor is absolutely delighted... this will open many doors for him as he will now be able to reach his full potential on an instrument that will not hold him back. (Kirsty Berriman, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 13
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

At an early age Connor developed a great love for music. He’s been playing the piano for five years and the bassoon for four and has progressed rapidly on both instruments, well ahead of his contemporaries.
As well as being technically advanced, Connor has impressed his teacher with his extreme musicality and musical maturity and sensitivity, which is unusual in someone of his young age.

Connor plays in four bands, including West Lothian’s School Wind Ensemble, and has recently joined the Boghall and Bathgate Caledonian Pipe Band to learn to play the bagpipes.

Currently in the junior department of the RSAMD, Connor’s goal is to take a music degree at the RSAMD. He plays in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

How the Award Helped

Recently his teacher pointed out that his current bassoon had passed its best and was actively holding him back from progressing further. The Dewar Arts Award enabled Connor to buy a performance standard bassoon.

Since the Award

Connor writes that after trying out his new bassoon the difference in advanced keywork and tone from his old one ‘was staggering’. He thinks it will last him through his student years and beyond, and believes that it has already improved his technicality and musicianship. Connor received an invitation to join the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra summer course, which he attributes directly to his improved playing and achievements since getting his new bassoon.

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Connor is absolutely delighted... this will open many doors for him as he will now be able to reach his full potential on an instrument that will not hold him back. (Kirsty Berriman, mother)

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2006 Awardee: Connor Sinclair

He is completely thrilled. This means so much to us as he can now receive tuition from the best of the best, which at his age will make a huge difference (Katrina Sinclair, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 9
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Connor Sinclair is the youngest winner of a Dewar Arts Award.

The director of the National Young Pipe Band of Scotland looks for the very best to join his band. The key criteria being ability, character and commitment, which, he says, Connor has in abundance. “To find someone who has these qualities at this high standard at such a young age is without doubt a sign of something very special.”

From Crieff, Perthshire, Connor is the youngest of five boys. He is passionate about piping and spent his ninth birthday money on highland dress so that he could enter solo piping competitions. He has already achieved success, often competing against youngsters considerably older than him.

Connor hopes to make music his career, and to that end is learning to play the violin and piano to help him gain entry to a musical secondary school.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funded tuition on the Highland pipes, and the associated travel costs, at the Piping Centre in Glasgow.

Since the Award

As a result of the tuition, Connor’s mother writes that his confidence has grown. Through a chance meeting, Connor has formed a friendship with First Minister, Alex Salmond, who has subsequently requested Connor pipe him into various functions. Connor was also invited to play at the Glasgow auditions for the X Factor ‘to give them a Scottish feel’, and of course he played at our own 10th anniversary Showcase.

Connor is now a pupil of the City of Edinburgh Music School and has enjoyed successes in many Scottish piping competitions. At the Perthshire Music Festival he was awarded the highest score so far awarded in any of the classes.

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He is completely thrilled. This means so much to us as he can now receive tuition from the best of the best, which at his age will make a huge difference (Katrina Sinclair, mother)

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2006 Awardee: David Blyth

I am absolutely delighted to receive confirmation that the Dewar Arts team have agreed to support my forthcoming exhibition

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

David, a graduate of Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, was brought up in Perth. Since completing a Master of Art & Design, he has developed his practice as a contemporary artist. His main inspiration comes from rural North-East of Scotland where he has now settled.

David is considered to be one of the most original, inventive and thought-provoking young artists working in Scotland today. In 2003, he represented Scotland in the Venice Biennale and in 2005/06 he was Town Artist in Huntly. His unique and creative take on Aberdeenshire and the North-East inspired and challenged the local community.

It has been written of his work that, “the material he chooses to work with is often deliberately rural and particular to Scotland. He celebrates the local and the lore of a forgotten countryside… He is a unique artist dealing with matters that themselves are now foreign to most urban dwellers but this is why he is a vital element of the Scottish contemporary art scene.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award financed the production of a catalogue to support David’s first solo exhibition Knockturne at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Since the Award

The exhibition later went to Lille, France under the auspices of ARTCONNEXION.

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I am absolutely delighted to receive confirmation that the Dewar Arts team have agreed to support my forthcoming exhibition

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2006 Awardee: David Fennessey

Thank you very much for your offer. I can't tell you what a big difference this will make to my stay here in Frankfurt in terms of being able to concentrate fully on what I am here to do.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 30
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Ireland, David Fennessy came to Scotland to pursue postgraduate study in composition at the RSAMD, Glasgow. He was considered to be amongst the very top group of students. David – who went to the same school as Damien Rice – learned to read music relatively late in life (15) having, up until then, played electric guitar in rock bands. David’s first contact with ‘classical’ music was when he saw a man playing classical guitar in a Dublin street. He asked him to teach him classical guitar.

David’s work has already received critical acclaim. He was shortlisted twice for the International Gaudeamus Music Prize in Amsterdam. His work has been performed in Ireland, Europe, Australia, South America and the US by a huge number of orchestras and ensembles, including the RSNO, SCO and Hebrides Ensemble. His String Quartet performed by the Endymion Ensemble will receive its London premiere in the Purcell Room, South Bank in London.

David has won a place – one of only two composers to achieve this – on the brand new Masters course run by the world-renowned International Ensemble Modern Academy, in Frankfurt. This offers him an unparalleled opportunity to work with some of the finest interpreters of new music in the world today and for his music to reach wider audiences. The experience will have a profound significance on David’s development as an artist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help support David financially for his year’s study in Frankfurt.

Since the Award

David writes that “in terms of my development as an artist one of the biggest advantages of receiving the Dewar Award was the time it allowed me to focus solely on my own work without the commercial pressures and expectations of the ‘concert world’.”

Since returning to Glasgow, David has finished several commissions, completed a residency at the Tokyo Wonder Site, Japan and had his work performed in many venues. He writes that since studying in Frankfurt “my career has entered what I feel is an exciting new stage of development.”

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Thank you very much for your offer. I can't tell you what a big difference this will make to my stay here in Frankfurt in terms of being able to concentrate fully on what I am here to do.

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2006 Awardee: Diana Simpson

I am delighted that the trustees have decided to grant me a most generous award. The award means that I can plan my move to Manchester without worrying that it all might fall through

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.dianasimpson.org.uk
 
 

Biography

Diana Simpson is one of the very few electroacoustic composers supported by a Dewar Arts Award.

For the uninitiated, an electroacoustic composer records sounds and transforms them using computer software to create complex sound environments. A range of resources are used to realise this music, including instruments and voices, improvisation, graphic scoring, live electronic processing on laptop and surround sound.

Hailing from Glasgow, Diana started her studies at the RSAMD, Glasgow graduating with a first in composition and going on to gain a masters with distinction. She shone as one of the best and most original composers her tutor had taught in his ten years at the RSAMD.

Several of Diana’s works have already been performed in public.  For more information and to listen to samples of Diana’s work, see www.dianasimpson.org.uk.

She has won three international prizes, the most recent being the prestigious 33rd Bourges International Competition of Electroacoustic Music, part of the prize includes four weeks in a studio overseas and attendance at the 2007 Bourges festival.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards provided Diana’s PhD fees and essential equipment for her research.

Since the Award

As she works towards completing her PhD in 2009, Diana has had an eventful few years since receiving her Award. Her work has been performed internationally and she has been recognised in a number of prestigious competitions, including second prize in L’Espace du Son Concours de Spatialization Pour L’Interpretation des Ouvres Acousmatiques 2008 and winner of Prix SCRIME 2007. She has also completed composer residencies in North America and Sweden.

Diana takes up a full-time post at Kingston University, London in late 2009 where she plans to pursue her own composition and research as well as encouraging the next generation of young composers.

In April 2009 Diana was announced as the recipient of a Distinguished Achievement Award from the University of Manchester for ‘University Postgraduate Student of the Year’. Congratulations to Diana.

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I am delighted that the trustees have decided to grant me a most generous award. The award means that I can plan my move to Manchester without worrying that it all might fall through

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2006 Awardee: Eilidh Martin

Playing chamber music is what I really want to dedicate my time to and I know that I am very lucky to have the chance to realize this

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Eilidh was born in Dingwall and brought up in Skye. She is a former pupil of St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh, before winning a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music, London where she studied with Margaret Moncrieff and Steven Doane. Doane writes, “Eilidh is one of the most intensely musical young people it has ever been my pleasure to teach. I believe she is one of Scotland’s finest young artists, and will bring great credit to her country.”

Among the several prizes Eilidh won at the RCM was the prestigious graduation prize, ‘Earl of Dalhousie Award’, for outstanding potential.

She then went on to study for a Masters at Eastman School of Music, Rochester, followed by a year in Amsterdam studying with Gregor Horsch, Principal of the Concertgebouw Orchestra.

During her studies, she has been supported by many prestigious awards and scholarships, and in fact would not have been able to take up the opportunities she has had, were it not for this financial support.

Eilidh is part of the young Scottish-based chamber group ‘Ensemble na Mara’ whose debut recital will be in February 2007. Future recitals include several in the Wigmore Hall, London and one at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival for the Royal Overseas League, whose Ensemble prize the group won in 2006. She also is a regular guest player with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Eilidh writes, “I am very keen on the idea of musicians performing in all sorts of situations, whether in the Wigmore Hall or village halls and want to experiment further with innovative programmes including contemporary Scottish composers to attract new audiences.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards helped Eilidh to buy a performance-standard cello.

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Playing chamber music is what I really want to dedicate my time to and I know that I am very lucky to have the chance to realize this

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2006 Awardee: Elysia Leech

I am so lucky to have the internal instrument I have and thank God every day for it!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

When she was at school, Elysia was only ever aware of pop music until one day she heard someone sing opera. She was inspired, and at the age of 16 decided to take up classical singing. Since then, her passion for opera and for becoming a major operatic performer has not wavered.

Born and brought up in Scotland, Elysia has been studying singing at Glasgow’s RSAMD.  After graduation, she intends to proceed to the postgraduate course in performance.

Her tutor considers her to be a singer of major potential who combines a mezzo-soprano voice of rare quality with an innate musicality and sense of drama.

Elysia’s ambition is to become a world class singer and perform in all the major opera houses around the world. Given the right opportunities and vocal education, all the indications are that this is a realistic ambition well within her capabilities and talent.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help finance Elysia as she continues to study opera performance at the highest level at RSAMD.

Since the Award

Unexpectedly during the course, Elysia’s voice type changed from low mezzo to high mezzo/soprano. She studied with renowned opera singer, Jane Irwin.  In 2008 Elysia won the RSAMD’s prestigious Governors’ prize and throughout August 2009, she was guest soloist for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Elysia continues her studies as she gets to grips with new repertoire to suit her new voice type.

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I am so lucky to have the internal instrument I have and thank God every day for it!

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2006 Awardee: Emma Durkan

I have learned a lot from attending the RSAMD - I have developed my own style of playing the fiddle and I also understand the style of traditional Scottish better.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 14
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Emma Durkan, from Saltcoats in Ayrshire, started playing Scottish fiddle in primary 6 and quickly showed natural musical ability and the potential to become a great musician. She has the extremely rare ability to learn a complicated tune by ear one week and accurately replay it the next, without the aid of the written music or a recording.

Emma’s ambition is to become a professional musician. She is a member of the North Ayrshire Fiddle Group and has performed with them in Mallorca, France and Sweden.  In 2007 Emma won the North Ayrshire Musician of the Year (Intermediate Award).

Emma’s talent and potential were being severely hampered by lack of regular tuition locally. In 2006 she successfully auditioned to take part in the RSAMD YouthWorks programme. This opportunity will allow her to be stretched musically and play with other talented young musicians who will inspire and motivate her to develop her potential to the full.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has given crucial financial support allowing Emma to take up the place on the RSAMD Youthworks programme. In the second year of support, Emma was able to study both violin and clàrsach.

Since the Award

Emma writes that “going to the RSAMD every Saturday ..greatly improved my playing and musicianship”. It also helped and taught her about writing her own compositions, which is something she had always wanted to do.

In 2008 Emma competed in the senior category of the North Ayrshire Musician of the Year competition, for the first time, in which she was runner-up. Emma begins her undergraduate studies in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University in 2010.

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I have learned a lot from attending the RSAMD - I have developed my own style of playing the fiddle and I also understand the style of traditional Scottish better.

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2006 Awardee: Erica Eyres

The Dewar Award gave me the financial freedom to concentrate while completing my work for these projects, and allowed me to afford the necessary materials without having to compromise my ideas.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

A senior teacher at the Glasgow School of Art describes Erica as “without doubt one of the best artists I have ever encountered in over twenty years of teaching”.

Originally from Canada, Erica is currently working in Glasgow. Her work explores human failings, aspirations/dreams and eccentricities in ways which are sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes moving and sometimes hilarious. Equally skilled in sculpture, painting, drawing and video, Erica has developed a unique and individual voice in all of these media.

Her work has already found critical acclaim and in 2006 she was nominated for the Beck’s Futures Prize. She is regarded as one of the most promising young artists working at the moment. With her Dewar Award, Erica was able to mount solo exhibitions of her work in London and Glasgow and attend an artist’s residency in Toronto.

These have led to other exciting opportunities, including other group exhibition in London, focussing on portraiture in contemporary art. A video she made in Toronto, and which was received extremely well, is being submitted to film festivals throughout Canada, by a Winnipeg-based organisation.  Erica is now represented in Toronto, China and Japan, where her work can be shown regularly in galleries.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Erica to mount exhibitions of her work in Glasgow and London and attend a residency in Toronto, Canada. She writes, “these exhibitions and the residency are important milestones in my career and they have helped to take my work and reputation as an artist to the next level.”

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The Dewar Award gave me the financial freedom to concentrate while completing my work for these projects, and allowed me to afford the necessary materials without having to compromise my ideas.

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