Student Beth Hinde is the joint winner of both The Daniel Ross Fine Art Prize for Consistent Excellence and New Graduate Award by the Auxiliary!

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. Beth shares the award with fellow student Jo Forbes.

Judges said “unusually, this year we are making an award to two students.. We cannot separate both students when judging consistent excellence. In the words of the team, if they had been pitted against each other, then like two prize-fighters they have been going punch for punch since the beginning of the Programme. Module after module, essay after essay, exhibition after exhibition, they have both excelled every time. Of course no punches have been thrown – yet – and they have both been a pleasure to work with!”

The New Graduate Award by the Auxiliary is a post-education professional development opportunity organised by the Auxiliary in Middlesbrough who organise the prestigious Middlesbrough Art Week. It is open to graduates from the Northern School of Art, MIMA School of Art & Design and Northumbria University, with two graduates being selected from each educational institution. Beth was award this prestigious prize along with fellow student Charlotte Thompson.

Find out more about Beth’s practice and time at the school below:

Why did you choose The Northern School of Art?

Having been told by previous people that a career in art was impossible I had pushed the idea of continuing my studies aside until we had a representative from The Northern School of Art come in to talk to my A-Level class. They completely changed my outlook on this, the facilities and opportunities they provided made that and more possible. During my interview with my lecturer Tony, he mentioned the professional gallery modules and degree show that we would take part in, and this completely sold it for me, the opportunity to have direct work in this industry is one I couldn’t pass up and I wouldn’t change my decision for anything!

How did you find your degree programme:

This programme has prepared me for the professional world in ways that I couldn’t have imagined being possible. Because of the work that we’ve completed in the 3 years, I’ve been apart of 9 gallery exhibitions, including a solo show at Pineapple Black Arts and a group exhibition with The Word in Middlesbrough Art Week 2023! Even without these opportunities, this programme has been such a welcoming and positive experience that has left me with a group of people that I know I can contact at any time for advice.

Tell us about your FMP:

I’ve always been fascinated by light and colour so when it came to my FMP studies, I couldn’t wait to investigate this. I decided to follow the narrative of projected light looking specifically at how people’s inspirations “light them up”. I would sit down with my chosen models and talk to them about what they found inspired them and take these images and project them directly upon the models. Using oil paint to mimic the varied light and colours that occurred when the art piece moulded to their likeness, I tried to celebrate both the model and colour that was entirely unique to them.

You won two awards this year, how did it feel?

I honestly couldn’t believe it when I got the email to say I had won not only ‘The Daniel Ross’ prize but the ‘New Graduate Award’ from the Auxiliary as well, I had to keep checking the email to make sure that it was real. To be recognised for consistent excellence by my lecturers and technicians in Fine Art was such a privilege and something that I will forever be grateful for. The New Graduate Award is an opportunity that I could never have dreamed of receiving when starting at The Northern School of Art. To have the chance to work with such an incredible team at the Auxiliary and be a part of Middlesbrough Art Week is invaluable, something that still doesn’t quite feel real. I was so overwhelmed to receive both of these awards and it wouldn’t have been possible at all without the support of the Fine Art team and my classmates.

Tell us about your favourite memory from the school:

I’ve had so many amazing experiences over my three years, but I think one of my favourite moments would have to be when we had our opening night for our second-year exhibition ‘Synergy’ hosted at Pineapple Black Arts. This was our first group exhibition together that was completely self-organised and funded, seeing people from the public walk in and look at all the artwork was such a surreal experience. That moment for me just proved to myself how much I want to work in this industry and have that moment happen over and over again.

Tell us about your next steps:

I was very fortunate to receive a place on the MA Arts Practice course next year and I cannot wait to get in the studios and get started. I hope to take the knowledge from my three years on my BA and the MA to start working professionally in the gallery industry, it can’t come soon enough.

What’s your favourite thing about Hartlepool?

I’ve been able to stay in Hartlepool during my BA and I just love how close the coast is, being able to decompress while walking next to the sea is something that I will miss so much after my MA is complete.

Any advice for future students? 

I think the one bit of advice that I would give to anyone wanting to start a Fine Art course at The Northern School of Art would to be welcome every opportunity with open arms. You never know who will be judging or looking at the work you submit and you can only get the opportunities if you take a chance.

If you are interested in a career in fine art our degree programme our degree is a well established and dynamic course, that offers students the freedom and resources needed to define their practice. find out more about BA (Hons) Fine Art now!