The Barbara Hackwood Prize for Outstanding Creative Development for BA (Hons) Fine Art Award recognises the student who has shown the most progress and development during their three academic years with us. It is made in memory of Barbara Hackwood, who was a much-loved member of the professional services staff at our school who also had a fine art degree.

This year, two of our students won the award Joe Lyttle and El Gleghorn. The two students were presented with the award because; “both students have progressed equally during their studies and both have worked hard to find their voice and their artistic language. They have each radically developed their practice, particularly in their final years, with one student moving from two to three dimensions and the other from photography to the moving image.”

We caught up with one of the award winners Joy Lyttle, from Northern Ireland, to find out more about his time studying at our school:

• Home town and school/college you joined from:

Glastry College, I went to do a two year college course in art & design and then a foundation year.

• Why did you choose to study at The Northern School of Art?

The area was quite nice, I mean the North of England is pretty good. I wanted to move from Northern Ireland because it was a big change and it was exciting. Also the interview, when I was speaking to Tony, he was very bubbly and really got me interested in joining the college.

• How did you find your degree programme?

Well yeah, the last three years have been really good. I’ve had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends. I really really enjoyed my time doing my own thing and being pushed to do better by the lecturers and even technicians. I am going to do a PGCE in Manchester next year and I wouldn’t be doing that if I didn’t come here and speak to everyone that i’ve spoken to.

• Tell us about your FMP project!

In second year I did a lot more photography, i’ve never really been interested in painting. I thought in last years show I did enough with photography and I wanted to move onto something bigger and more challenging. So then moved into fine art video, sort of keeping the idea of static shots so it’s almost like a photo, but then theres movement involved. The editing and sound was a really interesting thing to get into. Looking at the passing of time and landscapes and I just really really enjoyed everything that i’ve done.

The concepts are sea-scapes, the passing of time, it was landscapes as well because you can’t have a landscape without time passing. I also wanted it to be something different to everyone else in the degree show because, I knew that when people would be coming in and zipping round trying to see everything, if they went in to see mine it would slow everything down and be relaxing. I’ve had a lot of good feedback from it so i’m glad, I think it’s done what I wanted it to do.

• You are one of our award winners, congratulations! How did it feel to win your award?

I didn’t expect to win anything, I was very happy. I’d like to say a big thanks to Johnathan, Tony and Katy for putting me forward to win something. I was really really happy about it.

• What is your favourite thing to do in the area?

Well the last three years have been good, a lot of people are into drinking but i’m not massively into going out or whatever. I have got together a couple of guys and girls to play football and stuff like that on the weekends and be a bit more active. It’s a bit of fun and you make more friends.

• Any advice for future students applying to the school?

Well I do think this is a really great place to be, to really hone your skills and be pushed to do better and accomplish more then what you think you can. It’s a lovely area, all the staff are lovely, people are lovely. I’ve really enjoyed my time here.

If you are interested in a career in fine art our degree programme 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!