Scottish artist wins prestigious award

Based in Irvine, Scotland, artist Maree Hughes, a Glasgow School of Art alumna, has won second prize in the 2020 Derwent Art Prize.

Article Source: Derwent Art Prize 2020
Last Updated: 24 April 2020 12:28

Derwent is proud to announce the winners of the 5th instalment of the Derwent Art Prize . Out of the 4,756 entries submitted for the Prize, and a shortlist of 70 piece, judges Victoria Pomery, Charles Avery and Alice Rawsthorn selected the 4 winning artworks.

The number and quality of the artworks submitted by 1,884 artists from 72 different countries made the final choice difficult for the judges. “There were so many wonderful entries demonstrating the creativity of artists based in the UK and beyond”, explained Victoria Pomery, Director of Turner Contemporary. Art critic Alice Rawsthorn remarqued “The quality of the entries was so high that we were spoilt for choice.” And the artist Charles Avery recounted “I was struck, not only by the huge amount of entries, but the dedication and effort on display.”

Maree Hughes wins the Second Prize of £2,000 for 15 . Based in Irvine, Scotland, this Glasgow School of Art alumna searches for a balance between painting and drawing. Her “beautifully drawn” piece is “a study of concentration — of being engaged in the moment”, according to selector Charles Avery, who adds “I have teenage daughters so it particularly appealed!”

The First Prize of £4,000 plus a year’s supply of Derwent products goes to Katie Sollohub for Blue Bedchamber (Strawberry Hill House) . This Sussex-based artist focuses on experiencing, documenting and translating the spaces where she lives and works through drawing. Effortlessly evoking a feeling of light and breeze, her winning piece represents Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, a heritage site where she worked in 2017.

Based in Baltimore, USA, Xuetong Wang receives the Young Artist First Prize of £4,000 for Dog Walker . A self-described “illustrator, designer, and life enjoyer” Xuetong recently graduated from MFA in Illustration Practice from Maryland Institute College of Art. Described by the judging panel as “lovely and energetic”, the artist’s winning sketch demonstrates a vibrant use of colour, composition and movement.

The Young Artist Second Prize of £2,000 goes to Chunxiao Fu , from Hangzhou City, China, for Autumn Language No. 1. According to the judges, this charcoal landscape showcases “a very good, directional mark-making and a timeless subject” as well as “a lovely feeling of light”.

The exhibition of all 70 artworks shortlisted for the Derwent Art Prize 2020 is available in a virtual exhibition online. Viewers are invited to vote for their favourite pieces in People’s Choice Awards on Facebook or via email. Voting will close at midday on 1 May 2020, and the two artists with the most votes will be revealed on 12 May 2020 and win a share of the £1,000 prize money.

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