Turner Contemporary prize for young artists
Twenty-six young artists from Kent have won the chance to show their work at the prestigious Turner Contemporary gallery this month.
The sixth annual Page Turner competition, which is organised by the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) and Turner Contemporary, received more than 300 entries from 40 different schools, colleges and universities across the county.
The winners were announced during a presentation evening at UCA Canterbury.
The theme of this year's competition was 'Determination and Courage', in honour of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
Gill Wilson, Access and Outreach co-ordinator at UCA Canterbury, said: "Once again we were blown away by the quality of entries that came in for the Page Turner competition – Kent has some very talented young artists coming through.
"We were really impressed by the different variations on our Olympic theme and pleased to see that so many entrants were brave enough to move away from sport altogether at times.
"It's always wonderful to welcome young artists to the university and hopefully to see them develop into creative professionals in the future."
The winning entries will all go on display at Turner Contemporary's Learning Studio alongside major exhibitions from JMW Turner and Hamish Fulton on 21, 22, 28 and 29 April. Entry is free.
Karen Eslea, Head of Learning at Turner Contemporary, said: "I was delighted to see so many children, young people, teachers and parents at the Page Turner Art Competition Awards Ceremony at UCA.
"It is wonderful to see so many creative young people working very hard and enjoying the support of their parents and teachers. Creativity is of course vital to artists, but is also a skill that can help people to excel in many other areas of their lives."
UCA will have two students showing their work at Turner Contemporary after winning both of the spaces in the Higher Education category. Emily Parker, who studies BA (Hons) Illustration at UCA Maidstone, won the overall prize, while Cath Perkins, a graphic design student at the same campus, was runner-up.
You can view the full set of entries via the online gallery at: www.pageturner.org.uk.
Full list of winners:
Primary School Key Stage 2 (age 7-11)
Winner: Isabella Hyde, Herne Bay Junior School
Second: Molly Stamp, Davington Primary School
Runner-up: Daisy Henderson, Holy Trinity and St John's CEP
School year 7-9 (age 12-14)
Winner: Heather Craven, Swanvalley Community School
Second: Izzy Curry, Ursuline Sports College
School year 10-11 (age 15-16)
Winner: Wesley Clowes, Spires Academy
Second: Katie Pattison, Simon Langton
School year 12-13 plus FE age 16-18
Winner: Samantha Parkhouse, Benenden School
Second: Nick Suchak, Thanet College
Special Schools
Winner: Dennis Kingston, Meadowfield School
Second: Jemma Parks Martin, Meadowfield School
Runner-up: Charles Stone, Ifield School
Highly Commended – KMPF
Runner-up year 7-9: Connor Charlton, Brompton Academy
Runner-up year 12-13: Chloe Springate, Fulston Manor
Highly Commended: Megan Sackett, Herne Bay High School
Highly Commended: Sean Verney, Brompton Academy
Age 18 and FE
Winner: Ellie Weightman, Canterbury College
Second: Rachel Bassett, Canterbury College
Higher Education
Winner: Emily Parker, UCA Maidstone
Second: Cath Perkins, UCA Maidstone
Staff
Winner: Paul Gadenne, St Edmund's School
Second: Mark Parry, Herne Bay High School
Most promising artist
Winner: Hannah Percival, Thanet College
Olympic Award for interpretation of theme
Group winner: Holly Andrews; Olivia O'Sullivan; Jasmine Wood; Caroline Warren, Bromley High School
UCA prize for creative innovation
Winner: Luke Grover, Meadowfield School
Turner Contemporary prize for bold conceptual approach
Winner: Becky Unsworth, Canterbury College
For more information contact:
David Reilly, Press Officer, UCA
T: 01252 892939
E: dreilly@ucreative.ac.uk
