2005 Awardee: Anthony Campbell

The difference that this award will make in helping me reach my dream is immeasurable

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Anthony gained a first class degree in design textiles at the Glasgow School of Art and went on to pursue an MA in Fashion at Central St Martin’s, London, one of the UK’s major fashion colleges.

He writes: “my work is concerned with researching and developing textile design in the realm of menswear. I intend to do this by designing and developing textiles using digital print and knit technologies, challenging the use of these techniques and applying them to menswear design.”

Anthony’s aim is to launch himself as a contemporary menswear designer, through his final degree show at London Fashion Week.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped towards his MA in fashion at Central St Martin’s, London.

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The difference that this award will make in helping me reach my dream is immeasurable

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2005 Awardee: Angus Nicolson

The Daughter of Dewar Award has been a huge benefit to me, both for my career, and for my personal development....if it wasn't for the Award I would not have had the opportunities I have had to date.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Piping has been in Angus Nicolson’s family for generations. Although no-one in the long line of Nicolson pipers had the opportunity to develop their musical talents to a professional level, until now.

From the beautiful Isle of Skye, Angus was a pupil of the well-respected teacher of piping, Iain MacFadyen.
Angus has won many prizes at some of the most prestigious piping competitions in Scotland, including the Northern Meeting and the MacGregor Memorial Competition.

He has shown his versatility by being equally successful in the light music categories as well as the Piobaireachd categories, regarded as the classical music of the pipes.

Currently at Benbecula College, Angus has his sights set on studying Scottish Music at the RSAMD, Glasgow before going on to a solo career as a piper.

How the Award Helped

Angus received a Daughter of Dewar Award to buy a set of handmade Fred Morrison reelpipes.

Since the Award

Before making the purchase, Angus was able to try Fred’s own set of reelpipes. Since he got his own set, his career has gone from strength to strength. His many performances include a gig at Celtic Connections with fellow Award winner, Sarah Naylor.

Angus writes that the instrument ‘is a joy to play, sounds excellent and is as reliable as anyone could want.’ Owning such a top-quality instrument inspires him to practise even more.

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The Daughter of Dewar Award has been a huge benefit to me, both for my career, and for my personal development....if it wasn't for the Award I would not have had the opportunities I have had to date.

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2005 Awardee: Andrew Dunlop

A hundred thousand thanks for helping to make my dream of becoming a concert pianist a reality

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Connel, a small village near Oban, Andrew is a prodigious musical talent. He started learning piano at the age of 8 with Geoffrey Heald-Smith. He studied harp and composition with Savourna Stevenson, whom she describes as one of her most talented students.

Andrew is an energetic and charismatic young performer with an impressive CV including BBC radio and TV performances, Celtic Connections Festival and the winner of many music prizes.  He has an interest in a broad range of musical genres, which embraces both his commitment to his Scottish musical roots and a passion for the challenge of the piano concert repertoire.

He won the Mòd Piano Competition five years in a row and was then politely asked not to enter again in order to give others a chance! He has represented Scotland at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland, winning First Prizes in the Group and New Song Competition and Second Prize in the International Harp Competition. Also a talented clàrsach player, Andrew performed at the prestigious World Harp Congress in 2002.

More recent competition successes includes reaching the final of the RNCM Concerto Competition, the Manager’s Discretionary Award for outstanding performance at the Jacques Samuels Intercollegiate Piano Competition, and an award by the John Ireland Society of his complete solo piano works.  In 2006 Andrew won the RNCM Ravel Competition, giving him the chance to perform Ravel’s G Major Piano Concerto as soloist with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra.

In 2005, he received a full scholarship to attend the Gold Country Piano Institute’s ‘Mastercourse in Interpretation’ in California. Subsequently, he was selected to perform in several concerts around California.  2006 performances include Mozart’s Concerto in A Major K488 with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra and Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the RNCM Concert Orchestra.

Andrew is studying piano at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he is considered to be an intelligent and talented pianist with enormous potential.  He plans to continue at RNCM on the Master’s programme for which he has been awarded a Major Entrance Scholarship.

How the Award Helped

Andrew received a Daughter of Dewar Award towards the purchase of a grand piano.

Since the Award

Since buying a grand piano, Andrew graduated from RNCM with first-class honours, the Alfred Class Pianoforte Scholarship for the highest Final Recital mark and the Hilda Anderson Den Award for highest academic marks. He was also the first student to perform two concertos with the college orchestra in the same year. Not to mention being the first student to perform in a kilt.  Andrew attributes a lot of this success to being able to practise on a professional-quality piano.

Andrew is now pursuing an MMus at RNCM. He has also won a Fulbright Scholarship to continue his studies at Eastman College, Rochester, towards a DMA.

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A hundred thousand thanks for helping to make my dream of becoming a concert pianist a reality

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2005 Awardee: Amira Bedrush-McDonald

I have surprised myself with the amount of progress I've made as a violinist and the whole experience is enabling me to grow in many ways I never expected. This opportunity would [have been] impossible without the kind support from the Dewar Arts Awards.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

According to her violin tutor at the RSAMD, Amira has ‘star quality’ and is quite simply the best violinist he has ever taught. Not only does she have an outstanding talent as a violinist, but she also has the ability to hold an audience. While still at the RSAMD in Glasgow Amira regularly brought the house down at student gigs with her techno-rock ceilidh group, which she formed with friends from school.

After she completed a Masters in music at the RSAMD, Amira could have begun a successful professional career, but she was encouraged to set her professional sights at the highest possible level.

She is currently in a postgraduate programme in Texas studying with leading violin tutor, Brian Lewis.
Shortly after arriving in Austin, Amira auditioned for the University Symphony Orchestra and was thrilled to be offered the post of Concertmaster.  In her first concert she played the solo violin part in Brahm’s Symphony No. 1, which was extremely well received.  After a successful first year, Amira writes, “My dreams seem more accessible now.”

How the Award Helped

Amira received a Dewar Arts Award to support her studies at the Texas Music School.

Since the Award

May 2007: After two years studying violin performance at the University of Texas with Brian Lewis, Amira graduated in May 2007 with a Master in Music and the “Outstanding Master of Music Recital Prize”. She writes, “I feel incredibly fortunate that I was afforded the space, time and opportunity to learn such a great deal and also have the support and belief that I was capable of doing it.”

Amira is now working in the UK as a full-time musician. She and fellow Dewar Award-winner, Genna Spinks, have formed a string duo.

March 2017: in 2015 I became a member of the 1st violins in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. For me, this is a dream job which has involved tours round Europe, India and the Far East, and has included making highly acclaimed recordings and also appearances at the BBC Proms. I feel incredibly lucky to have had the support from the Dewar Arts Awards 2005-2007 and know that my chosen career path might not have been possible without it.

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I have surprised myself with the amount of progress I've made as a violinist and the whole experience is enabling me to grow in many ways I never expected. This opportunity would [have been] impossible without the kind support from the Dewar Arts Awards.

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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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