2021 Awardee: Blise Orr

Blise Orr

"Without this award, it would have been impossible for me to fulfill this ambition [of attending the Williem De Koon Academy]. The Dewar Award will enable me to develop my practice over the next two years and work on larger scales with many more people positively affected by my designs and strategies for more sustainable and considered designed environments. "

YEAR OF AWARD: 2021
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Blise completed an undergraduate degree in Interior Design at the Glasgow School of Art in 2019, before taking up a place on the Interior Architecture Masters course at the Williem De Koon Academy in Rotterdam in 2021. Blise’s practice looks at urbanism and interior architecture through the design of more sustainable and considered cities, with a focus on the spatial experiences of every day and how design can positively impact us. Working between Glasgow and Rotterdam, Blise continues to develop her practice with a new focus on climate, migration and inequality in cities. Blise has also hosted panel discussions, creating connections and contrasts between cities of similar scales across the globe and working to design better more transparent cities for all.

How the Award Helped

Blise’s Dewar Award supports her Masters studies in Interior Architecture in Rotterdam, for which she secured one of only twelve places available. This enables her to develop her practice from Interior Design into Interior Architecture and work on larger scales and focus on producing designs and strategies for more sustainable and considered design environments.

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Blise Orr

"Without this award, it would have been impossible for me to fulfill this ambition [of attending the Williem De Koon Academy]. The Dewar Award will enable me to develop my practice over the next two years and work on larger scales with many more people positively affected by my designs and strategies for more sustainable and considered designed environments. "

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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: Bobby Sayers

"Without the funding from Dewar Art Award I would have had to turn down my place at Piet Zwart Institute. The award made furthering my education and progressing my career as an artist possible...I am extremely grateful."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.bobbysayers.com/
EMAIL:bobby@bobbysayers.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/bobbysayers

Biography

Bobby Sayers is an artist, designer and curator based in Glasgow/Rotterdam. Sayers’ practice explores themes of beauty and value through the frame of the city, his artworks often consider how we value ourselves and what authorship we have over our environments. Using film, performance, photography and sculpture to expose emotions and discuss the human condition and current sociopolitical situations.

Bobby has exhibited internationally and established residencies and arts projects across Scotland. As well as gaining one of only 10 places on a prestigious masters course at Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam, he has worked for many organisations and galleries across the UK such as Nottingham Contemporary, The Museum of Everything and You Me Bum Bum Train.  He has co-programmed for The Telfer Gallery, Glasgow, and has worked as a designer and website developer for Organise Consulting, a political campaigns organisation based in London.

Bobby has delivered a commission to develop progressive digital manufacturing and education schemes across 8 Libraries in East Dunbartonshire, runs an annual residency in Braemar, Scotland, and is involved in other projects across Scotland as part of the co-founded organisation Common Ground.

How the Award Helped

Bobby’s Dewar Arts Award contributed towards the course fees for his Masters of Fine Art at the Piet Zwart Institute.

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"Without the funding from Dewar Art Award I would have had to turn down my place at Piet Zwart Institute. The award made furthering my education and progressing my career as an artist possible...I am extremely grateful."

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2014 Awardee: Jessie White

Being supported by the Dewar Award allows me to spend all of my time in the studio or in an internship, which will highly benefit my work. It is greatly appreciated.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
EMAIL:jessie.snap@hotmail.co.uk
 

Biography

Originally from Devon, Jessie’s family moved to Scotland in 1992.  A passionate fashion designer, Jessie funded herself through a degree course at the Gray’s School of Art.  She proved herself to be an exceptional student, possessing sophisticated technical skills as well as an aptitude for critical thinking.

In 2013 Jessie’s graduate collection, entitled Getting it Wrong, won the BP Design Award.  She was subsequently invited to contribute to exhibitions as well as being offered the position of Graduate in Residence.

Jessie has taught workshops in pattern making, construction and illustration.  She was accepted onto the MA in Fashion Artefact at the London College of Fashion and continues to enjoy working on challenging and diverse projects.

How the Award Helped

Jessie received an Award to fund her masters studies at the London College of Fashion, offering her the opportunity to refine her skills and develop her brand identity.

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Being supported by the Dewar Award allows me to spend all of my time in the studio or in an internship, which will highly benefit my work. It is greatly appreciated.

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2014 Awardee: Hayley McSporran

It would not have been possible for me to study a postgraduate course without the help of the Dewar Awards. I'm eternally grateful.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
EMAIL:hayleymcsporran@hotmail.co.uk
 

Biography

Hailing from Glasgow, Hayley studied fashion design at Cardonald College for three years before moving to Aberdeen in 2012.  She gained direct entry into the third year of a BA Fashion Design at the Grays School of Art, where she demonstrated maturity and focus in her practice.  In 2014 she graduated with a first class honours degree.

Returning to her home town, Hayley was offered a place to study on the Masters in Fashion and Textlies course at the Glasgow School of Art.

How the Award Helped

Hayley’s Dewar Award allowed her to accept her masters place at the Glasgow School of Art.  This is an advanced skills programme which will allow her to develop and hone her individual ‘design signature’.

On achieving her award, Hayley said:

“Having studied Fashion Design for the past five years, I am more determined than ever to work hard and be a successful fashion designer in the industry.  Undertaking the MDes Fashion and textiles course at Glasgow School of Art is an essential step towards my ambition of eventually having my own fashion label. The course itself is providing me with the perfect platform for progression in development of my work and cementing my own creative design identity.”

Since the Award

Whilst studying on the MDes, Hayley continued to impress with her work and was awarded the John Mather Rising Scholarship Award in 2015. Read more here.

Hidden Utopia AW15 from Joe Hart Creative on Vimeo.

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It would not have been possible for me to study a postgraduate course without the help of the Dewar Awards. I'm eternally grateful.

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2012 Awardee: Lyndsay McNeill

My ultimate aim is to become an independent fashion designer of the future. I believe that studying at L.C.F. with financial assistance courtesy of a Dewar Award would allow me to achieve my goal.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2012
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.lyndsaymcneill.com/
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Falkirk, Lyndsay has lived in Scotland all her life.  A prolific and diligent worker, she has proved herself to have an exceptional aptitude for fashion design.

In 2012 Lyndsay graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art with a first class honours degree.  Her hard work and obvious talent earned her many accolades whilst she was there, including the Andrew Grant Bequest Fund for her first year’s work, an exhibition at the London Fashion Week and an internship at Jonathan Saunders.  She then went on to gain an unconditional offer to study an MA in Fashion Design Technology Menswear at the London College of Fashion.

Lyndsay’s ambition is to become an independent fashion designer.  She aims to create “an alternative minimalism, where complex cutting and fabric manipulation combine to create a groundbreaking tailored collection of exclusive garments”.  She enjoys pushing and challenging herself in all areas of her design work and hopes her collections will “enhance individuality and challenge the perception of the consumer”.

How the Award Helped

Lyndsay’s Dewar Award supported her in her MA at the London College of Fashion.

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My ultimate aim is to become an independent fashion designer of the future. I believe that studying at L.C.F. with financial assistance courtesy of a Dewar Award would allow me to achieve my goal.

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2012 Awardee: Kyle Spires

This award has quite literally been life changing, enabling me to push my visions and challenge myself at this critical time.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2012
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Kyle is a gifted fashion designer, originally from Greenock.  As an undergraduate he studied at the Edinburgh College of Art, where he learned about fashion, design, construction and illustration.  At the age of 22, he moved to London to take up a place on the RCA’s MA in Womenswear.

Whilst studying in London, Kyle proved himself to be a throughly committed and self-motivated individual, whose work is creative, highly relevant and underpinned with a strong technical awareness.  His aesthetic has been described as both polished and personal, and in 2011 he won the prestigious Karen Millen Portfolio Award at Graduate Fashion Week. He is an ambitious and innovative, a natural communicator, and has a bright future ahead of him.

How the Award Helped

The process of developing a final collection can be extremely costly.  Kyle’s Dewar Award supported him in this crucial stage of his studies, allowing him the freedom to test out new techniques and explore his full potential for innovation.

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This award has quite literally been life changing, enabling me to push my visions and challenge myself at this critical time.

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