To kick off celebrations at this year’s Degree Show opening night, a number of students were presented with awards by Principal Dr Martin Raby and School Governor Sarah Fawcett. In a special ceremony filled with fellow students and staff  17 award winning students across our courses were presented with a certificate and prize.

Awards cover achievements such as breaking boundaries, creative development and outstanding achievements such as the prestigious Middlesbrough Art Week’s New Graduate Award and  The Cakes and Ales Press award selected by Tall Ships’ Artist Johnny Hannah. Congratulations to all winning students and runners-up!

Read on to find out more about our awards and winners

The Daniel Ross Fine Art Prize for Consistent Excellence – BA (Hons) Fine Art: Faith Maddison

The Daniel Ross Fine Art Prize recognises a student who has consistently excelled across all aspects of their studies during the three years of their programme. It bears the name of a student who excelled in everything he did during his time at The Northern School of Art.

Not only has this student worked incredibly hard to excel in almost every module she has undertaken and in so doing developed a wonderfully joyous and energetic visual language – she has also thrown herself into every aspect of studying here. As well as organising and participating in many of the excellent exhibitions across the region she has also been the Department’s Student Representative one of the School’s Ambassadors and even its occasional Receptionist.

The Barbara Hackwood Prize for Outstanding Creative Development – BA (Hons) Fine Art: Ellie Cutmore

This BA (Hons) Fine Art award recognises the student who has shown the most progress and development during their three academic years with us. It bears the name of Barbara Hackwood who was a much-loved member of staff at the Northern School of Art.

Half-way through the course this student decided to stop painting the Urban Landscape and instead specialise in photographing the Urban Landscape. In the time since she has worked very hard to both master the technical complexities of the camera and the printing of photographs, and has developed a beautifully presented, very strong, very well contextualised visual language in that medium.

BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design – Student of the Year 2023: Robin McLaughlin

This award recognizes the overall performance, approach to studying and achievement of graduating students from the BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design Programme.

The winner of this award has fully engaged with all aspects of their studies from day one and will graduate with a collection of work that is thought provoking, contemporary and personal. This student has drawn upon extensive primary research from both a historical and contemporary perspective to take risks in developing a beautiful fashion print collection that is sophisticated and innovative.

Throughout their studies this student has consistently worked with commitment and passion for their subject and has embraced opportunities offered throughout their studies. This student has fully extended their skills across all areas of surface design, but especially in printed textiles and the team wish him every success with his future plans.

The Gary Pearson Award (For Breaking Boundaries) – BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design: Amy Woodward

This award is in memory of Gary Pearson, a student who has explored and pushed boundaries, whether they be personal, technical, visual or conceptual. During his time studying with us Gary was on a personal journey of self-discovery and we’d like to present this award annually to a student who we feel has explored their own path, been brave, independent, asked questions of their personal practice and broken boundaries in their own journey.

The winner of this award has fully engaged with their studies from day one and has consistently pushed themselves out of their comfort zone. This has been especially apparent during the final year of her studies, in which they have based their final years work on a series of personal, solo adventures around the UK and beyond, always with sketchbook and camera. This student lives and

breathes their work, and has broken countless personal boundaries in their three years studying at The Northern School of Art.

 The Gavin Murphy Achievement Award (Film Student of the Year Award 2023) – BA (Hons) Film, TV & Theatre Production: Liv Graham

This award is given to the student who has displayed an excellent attitude in helping others and commitment to excellence throughout their studies. This reflects the memory of Gavin Murphy, a former student and staff member who would always go the extra mile to help others in pursuit of their dreams.

This student has worked tirelessly across all of the Films this year as well as working on multiple theatre productions and has always done it to the best of their ability and with a care that the productions can be the best that they can be! And always with dedication, taking difficulties in their stride to help their fellow students. And a smile!

Illustration Achievement Award: Natalie Gains

This award is given to the student who has shown an exceptional attitude within their practice, commitment to their studies and positive influence within the cohort.

The team felt that this student has worked incredibly hard developing skills, professional practice and storytelling. They are always available to support others in their practice, helped with fundraising efforts and bring a positive mental attitude even through challenging times.

The Sarah Cowell Design Impact Award – BA (Hons) Graphic Design and BA (Hons) Digital Design & Advertising: Leah Allen

We’d like to give this award in memory of Sarah Cowell, a student who harnessed design to make a true impact, attempting to make the world a better place. An ambition shared by many, The Design Impact Award recognises students from across the design disciplines, that demonstrate their commitment to make a difference and addressing social issues.

The student for this award has been selected because her work shines a contemporary light on Period Poverty and the need for Menstrual Equity – with an aim of providing equal and comprehensive access to menstrual hygiene products, and to the right to education about reproductive health.

Arc Award for Best Solo Show – BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen: Kaitlyn Maxfield

This award is given by an industry panel organised through ARC in Stockton, our education partner.

The panel felt this student’s work was a really important piece of work. Looking at a story that hasn’t been told in a moving and dynamic style. This student will now be supported by ARC in developing this into a full piece.

Acting student of the year award – BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen: Stephen Lister

This Award is for the Acting student who has produced the strongest work across different mediums. The winner of this award has grown and developed hugely over his three years of study. His work has become more nuanced and considered. This year he has worked across mediums to a high level and with a wonderful spirit adding to any project he has been involved in.

“Moments of Wow” – BA (Hons) Production Design for Stage & Screen: Charlie Poole

This award is sponsored by our industry partner EPH Studios, one of the UK’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of themed installations for events, private parties, Film & TV, leisure, retail and hospitality. This award is to highlight continuous stand-out work. Creating scenic construction or props that really do make people say “WOW”

It has been awarded for hard-work and thinking outside the box. This student has fully immersed themselves within projects, thinking not just about the practical aspects involved in design and build, but the storytelling and experience people will get from it. The awarded student has developed a huge understanding of what it takes to work within the industry and has used their own initiative to gain wider experience.

EPH wish the awarded student lots of luck in their future within the creative industries.

 New Graduate Award – Middlesbrough Art Week: Aimee Sulley & Fiery MacHirst

Middlesbrough Art Weekender (MAW) is a visual arts festival that occurs across the town of Middlesbrough in galleries, institution, project spaces, museums and public and meanwhile spaces. The festival is open to all artistic mediums and can take the form of, but not limited to, exhibitions, installations, performance, talks, workshops, participatory projects and everything in-between. The New Graduate Award is a post-education professional development opportunity. It is open to graduates from the Northern School of Art, MIMA School of Art & Design and Northumbria University with two graduates selected from each educational institution.

BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation with Design – Student of the Year Award 2023: Lizzie Marley

This award is an acknowledgement of a high degree of commitment and professionalism throughout the graduating students from BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation for Design.

The Costume team comment that this student has worked hard every day to push their skills and find resolves, but always with a smile. No one deserves it more than this person.

Anjool Malde Awards 2023: Rachel Draper

“The Anjool Maldé Memorial Trust, a UK registered charity, was set up to keep alive Anjool’s legacy of a kindred and enlivened spirit that lit up so many lives and inspired and helped others to make most of their talents. The Photography Award is an exciting addition to the current memorial awards already in place in his name and have quickly grown in prestige and have become highly coveted marks of honour with the beneficiaries going on to achieve higher and greater things.

The Photography Award gives recognition for the talent of one student from the BA (Hons) Commercial Photography programme and one from BA (Hons) Photographic Practice (with Moving Image).”

The winner from BA (Hons) Commercial Photography has created something rooted in the familiar language of marketing and consumerism, but unexpectedly theatrical and beguiling. She draws us in to a non-threatening scene, dazzled by drapery, colour and movement. There we discover that life is not so simple, there are precursors and consequences, illuminating the crucial issue of unsustainable consumerism.

The winner of BA (Hons) Photographic Practice (with Moving Image): Rachel Marsh

This award goes to a student whose practice is evolving and progressing, with an evident determination and seriousness of intent. The Trustees of the Anjool Malde Awards are delighted to acknowledge their originality, distinctiveness and technical control of materials and techniques.

Principal’s BA (Hons) Dissertation & Report Prize 2023: Lewis King from BA (Hons) Visual Effects and Model Making

This award is now in its 15th year, and was created as a means to recognise the high standard of work that is being presented by our Level Six students. The prize is awarded as recognition to those whose research and debate resulted on an innovative approach to their subject, to the research, and to the debate.

This student’s Undergraduate Dissertation explores the utilisation of interactive exhibitions within a museum setting, investigating new technological advancements in exhibition design as a way to promote deeper learning and information assimilation. They have conducted important primary research to inform their Dissertation, including interviews with the Chief Executive of Aberdeen Science Centre and the Manager of The Heugh Battery Museum in Hartlepool.

Principal’s MA Dissertation prize: Angela List-Evans from MA Design History

In 2020, The Northern School of Art launched its postgraduate provision, now comprising four programmes. This award recognises the advanced ability of MA students in creating original directions through in-depth research, innovation and advanced scholarship.

Drawing on recorded oral histories, interviews with historians and Boosbeck archival materials, this student’s Dissertation is a cohesive and cogent response that explores the contextual climate around Boosbeck Industries Social Enterprise

Furniture Scheme in East Cleveland in the 1930s, effectively charting its influences, trajectory and legacy through an interdisciplinary approach.

The Cakes and Ale Press Award: Amy Fairweather

The final Award is the Cakes & Ale Press Award, which has been sponsored by Jonny Hannah, an artist and illustrator, who has become somewhat of a resident artist at The Northern School of Art throughout 2023 in our print department working with Hartlepool Art Gallery on a fantastic Hartlepool inspired commission.

Jonny has awarded this particular student the award after a tour of the exhibition, delighted by her craft in visual communication and text as image.