2005 Awardee: Aidan O’Rourke

What Aidan combines is the best of what I regard as 'Scottishness', outstanding ability and outstanding commitment, all delivered with great humour

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Aidan O’Rourke was brought up in the West Coast town of Oban and moved with his family to the beautiful Seil Island, near Oban, as a teenager. He lived there until going to university in Glasgow at 18.

In 2005 he took up a two-year musician-in-residence at the Tolbooth in Stirling, which the Artistic Director says “is as much about nurturing Aidan’s talents as a composer and musician as it is about the Tolbooth utilizing the talents of the musician”.

In 2004 Aidan was commissioned by Fife Community Services to compose and perform a piece of music to celebrate the visit of his holiness the Dalai Lama to Fife. As part of the project he worked with troubled young people with a broad range of musical talents.

According to all who worked with him, Aidan’s work on the project was ‘inspirational’, both in relation to the composition and to the performance he drew out of the youngsters.

How the Award Helped

Aidan received a Daughter of Dewar Award to buy a new fiddle.

Since the Award

Aidan is a busy recording and performing fiddler at the top of his game, including playing and recording with Blazin’ Fiddles and his new trio Lau. His fiddle was coming to the end of its life, and Aidan badly needed a new one to match his abilities and to enable him to challenge himself musically.

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What Aidan combines is the best of what I regard as 'Scottishness', outstanding ability and outstanding commitment, all delivered with great humour

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2005 Awardee: Aaron McGregor

I am enjoying the violin very much and am very grateful for the help I have been given

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Aaron writes that “since both my parents are musicians, music has always been a central part of my life.”

Multi-talented Aaron has been playing the violin since the age of 7 and now also plays guitar and piano, sings and writes music.

Brought up in Canada and now based in Orkney, Aaron has immersed himself in the local traditional music scene. He plays with many of the Scottish orchestras and has been involved in several productions at the St Magnus Festival.

Aaron is now studying music at Edinburgh University.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Aaron to buy a performance-standard violin.  A second Award funded the purchase of a new bow.

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I am enjoying the violin very much and am very grateful for the help I have been given

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2005 Awardee: Jennifer McHardy

Thank you very much for giving me the chance to begin to fulfil my dreams and ambitions within this creative and competitive industry.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.etsy.com/nervousstitch
 
 

Biography

Jennifer gained a first-class honours degree in textile and surface design from Gray’s School of Art, The Robert Gordon University before winning a place on the highly competitive MA in Constructed Textiles at the Royal College of Art, London.

From the start of her studies, Jennifer’s talent and innovation stood out, culminating in a ‘stunning’ final degree show. Her work reveals exceptional talent shot through with wit and intellectual rigour.

Whether Jennifer’s design takes her into theatrical design or a more commercial career as a textile designer, it is certain that she will be successful.

How the Award Helped

Jennifer received a Dewar Arts Award towards her MA studies at the Royal College of Art, London.

Since the Award

Jennifer’s degree collection, see below, was based upon traditional Scottish knitted textiles given a contemporary twist with the use of unusual materials and processes. Jennifer won a Rowan Yarns design competition with her design appearing in the Rowan Studio catalogue.
Jennifer’s work features in our 10th Anniversary Exhibition.
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Thank you very much for giving me the chance to begin to fulfil my dreams and ambitions within this creative and competitive industry.

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2004 Awardee: Sally Reid

With the advent of Scotland's first national theatre company, it is an exciting time to be working in theatre in Scotland, and I hope to be able to contribute to the success of our theatre industry

YEAR OF AWARD: 2004
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Perth, Sally has been hailed as one of the brightest young actors currently on the Scottish theatre scene.

As a very young actor, she appeared in several productions at Glasgow’s Citizens’ Theatre, including the award-winning show Top Girls and impressed the artistic director as being someone with huge potential to become a major talent. It was while Sally was working at the Citz that she was nominated for an award. She was encouraged by Giles Havergal to use it to fund herself through an intensive acting course for young professional actors in Chicago.

Sally was accepted onto the course at the internationally-acclaimed ensemble company Steppenwolf Theatre. Famous alumni of the company include John Malkovich, Terry Johnson and Gary Sinise.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funded Sally to study at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.

Since the Award

Sally writes: “The three months that I spent with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago proved to be even more rewarding than I had hoped for. I attended so many challenging classes with such a wide range of skilled practitioners that I really felt I was growing as an actor on a daily basis.”

On her return to Glasgow, Sally was cast in the musical “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” which she found a daunting prospect. She says, “had I not been working with the Steppenwolf Company, I may have been quite intimidated by this experience, but I revelled in the chance to put some of my new skills into action.”

Sally has since performed regularly in National Theatre of Scotland productions.

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With the advent of Scotland's first national theatre company, it is an exciting time to be working in theatre in Scotland, and I hope to be able to contribute to the success of our theatre industry

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2004 Awardee: Robert Niven

I am hugely grateful to have been given the chance to go to Banff. It was an unforgettable experience and has had a very encouraging effect upon my development as a young artist.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2004
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.robbyniven.com
 
 

Biography

Fife artist, Robert Niven, graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 2003.

To develop his art and to take it to new places, Robert applied to go on a self-directed creative residency in Canada.  His time at the Banff Centre was a very important experience for Robert giving him an opportunity to develop his art practice and to meet and get to know an amazing variety of international artists.  He says that the experience gave him time, space and support to experiment, to collaborate and to enjoy making art.

He made friends with artists worldwide which led to an invitation to the Istanbul Biennale, a residency in Argentina and a visit to artists in Mexico City.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award supported Robert on a two-month self-directed creative residency in the Banff Arts Centre, Canada.

Since the Award

Robert’s art practice has developed dramatically since Banff, moving from photography into sculpture. Robert completed an MFA at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver in 2007 supported by a Commonwealth Scholarship.

Robert now lives and works in Glasgow.  He has been developing a group of sculptural collages that entwine everyday absurdities with historical happenings.  He makes materials coalesce into a form of sculptural dyslexia, with mimesis, misrecognition and metamorphosis merging to create mongrel forms.

In 2008 he curated the Dewar Arts Awards Fifth Anniversary Showcase Exhibition. For more information about Robert’s work see www.robbyniven.com.

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I am hugely grateful to have been given the chance to go to Banff. It was an unforgettable experience and has had a very encouraging effect upon my development as a young artist.

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2004 Awardee: Katie Mackenzie

I have been immersed in traditional music and song from a young age and have always known it is what I want to pursue a career in

YEAR OF AWARD: 2004
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From an early age Katie wanted to be a traditional musician.

She has supported well-known Scottish band Capercaillie and performed at the Festival de Cornouaille in Brittany, Falun Folk Festival in Sweden and the Edinburgh Fiddle Festival. In 2005 she performed at Celtfest in Cork as part of the European City of Culture Celebrations.

Katie is studying Scottish music at the RSAMD, Glasgow.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Katie to buy her a professional-standard clàrsach.

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I have been immersed in traditional music and song from a young age and have always known it is what I want to pursue a career in

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2004 Awardee: Luke Fowler

YEAR OF AWARD: 2004
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow-based artist, Luke Fowler, graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone Art College in 2000 and has specialised in film documentaries on sociological, historical or cultural issues.

A leading Scottish curator described Luke as “one of the most exciting and ambitious artists working in Scotland.”

In 2005 he was short-listed for the important Beck’s Futures Award.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funded the production of a film on the work of British composer Cornelius Cardew’s Scratch Orchestra project.

Since the Award

Luke’s Award-funded film, “Pilgrimage From Scattered Points”, premiered in Glasgow in 2006 to critical acclaim and was later shown at Tate Britain as part of the Tate Triennial, a survey of new British Art.  It has been selected for showing at a number of major film festivals.  Luke writes: “The Scratch Orchestra project had, to my mind, a wealth of fascinating issues attached to its legacy; questions of the social function of art and music to society, the role of the artist in that society and the question of art for whom?”

Luke went on to Bamberg, Germany to take up a one year residency at Villa Concordia, thanks, in part, to recognition from the Dewar Arts Award. He is now an established member of the vibrant Glasgow art scene and has been shortlisted for the 2012 Turner Prize.

For a detailed list of Luke’s exhibitions and projects, click here.

The Guardian – Turner Prize 2012 Film Clip

Alasdair Roberts “Under No Enchantment” Directed by Luke Fowler

Glasgow Film Festival: Adrian Laing (son of R.D. Laing) talks about Luke’s film All Divided Selves

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2003 Awardee: Maeve Gilchrist

I promise to make the most of all the opportunities that have been given to me and to push my own limits musically, particularly on the harp

YEAR OF AWARD: 2003
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.maevegilchristmusic.com
 
 

Biography

Even by the time Maeve was nominated for an Award she was an accomplished singer, clàrsach player and teacher.

She performed a specially-commissioned piece by Martyn Bennett on electro-clàrsach at the opening of the Scottish Parliament and has been invited to perform at several high-profile events since.

A graduate of the Broughton School of Music in Edinburgh, Maeve explains why she chose Berklee, “It was founded in the early 20th Century … as a place to study the roots of jazz and blues as well as moving with the times and embracing the modern rock and pop cultures..  I feel I would develop more as a musician if I developed my knowledge of jazz and blues.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award supported Maeve for four years at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Since the Award

Maeve teamed up with two Argentinian musicians, also Berklee graduates, to form the Maeve Gilchrist Trio, who create a wonderful fusion of Scottish traditional, Latin American and jazz rhythms.  Her debut album “Reaching Me” was released in 2006.  Maeve divides her time between the States and the UK.  For more information about Maeve’s current work, see her website www.maevegilchristmusic.com.

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I promise to make the most of all the opportunities that have been given to me and to push my own limits musically, particularly on the harp

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2003 Awardee: Andrew Lamb

The experiences I have had meant that having graduated I was in a great position and gave me the confidence to set up on my own

YEAR OF AWARD: 2003
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.andrewlamb.co.uk
 
 

Biography

As an undergraduate at the Edinburgh College of Art, Andrew Lamb, was considered to be one of the finest young metalworkers/jewellers of his generation.  By the time he went on to do a Masters at London’s Royal College of Art, Andrew had won several prestigious UK and international awards for his work, including the World Crafts Council Europe Award for Contemporary Crafts in Munich.

Andrew writes that the award came at just the right time for him creatively.  He had been spending a lot of time mastering new techniques, but was cautious about the cost of the materials he was using.

Receiving the award meant that “I could take the plunge and put to the test my discoveries using white, yellow and red gold, and silver. The results meant I could successfully go on to produce an exciting final body of work which would subsequently lead me to the next level in my career.”

Andrew went on to win a number of major prizes for his final year show. He was also given the very prestigious commission by De Beers to design a piece to be presented by the Queen to John Oxx, trainer of Azamour, the winning horse in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award supported Andrew in the second year of his Master’s degree.

Since the Award

Andrew writes that he is “so pleased and extremely grateful to have been given such a prestigious Award. It goes without saying that the Dewar Arts Award has been massively beneficial and supportive to me at that particular stage in my career.” For more information about Andrew’s work, see www.andrewlamb.co.uk.

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The experiences I have had meant that having graduated I was in a great position and gave me the confidence to set up on my own

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2002 Awardee: Louise Stewart

I can tell everyone here in New York that I am a Scottish Actress. That's special. That's really special. I would like to thank everyone involved in helping me and giving me the honour of being one of the first recipients of this award

YEAR OF AWARD: 2002
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

From Stepps, near Glasgow, Louise was described as “a hell of a voice” by one of UK’s leading casting directors. She is one of the first recipients of a Dewar Arts Award.

A graduate of the Knightswood School’s musical theatre course, Louise was their first student to gain a place at Broadway’s number one Performing Arts college, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York (better known as the school of “the kids from Fame” television series).

Not only that, but she also won a scholarship beating off fierce competition from thousands of American hopefuls.

Louise writes: “Training at the AMDA has been a fabulous tool for preparing me to enter the theatre world….. I learned so much in my time there and gained the support and respect of many of my teachers.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped fund Louise for two years at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York.

Since the Award

After successfully graduating from AMDA, Louise writes, “training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy has been a fabulous tool for preparing me to enter the theatre world of New York.” She continues to seek work in New York and is currently cast in one of the lead roles in an Off-Broadway musical starting in January 2006.

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I can tell everyone here in New York that I am a Scottish Actress. That's special. That's really special. I would like to thank everyone involved in helping me and giving me the honour of being one of the first recipients of this award

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