Drawn From Youth 7: two national winners (2017)

Our Annual Drawn From Youth 7 Exhibition opened in March 2017 at the Fylde Gallery, Lytham. Resulting from previous collaborations between The Arts Society and the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA), a challenging National Art Competition is now held each year at the Mall Galleries in London. Twenty places are awarded for A-Level students to exhibit their artwork alongside prize-winning practising artists at the RBA Annual Exhibition.

Ellie Morris, Wildlife Issues

This year, we were delighted to have two Award-winning students – Ellie Morris and Eleanor Wood from AKS Independent School. Both submitted ceramic sculptures. Over seven years, The Arts Society Fylde has received 11 of these national Awards – a recognition of the artistic talent to be found in our local schools.

Eleanor Wood, Musical Instrument ceramic bowl

The standard of artwork submitted for this national competition is very high and we are proud to organise Drawn From Youth Exhibitions annually, providing an opportunity for students’ artwork to be shown locally at the Fylde Gallery, Lytham. This year, 57 students exhibited a wide variety of 85 artworks, which included drawing, sketching and paintings, ceramics, textiles, photography and, increasingly popular, graphic design. This year’s judges were: Elaine Jakeman, Blackpool & Fylde College/Lytham Sixth Form College (BTec); Taneesha Ahmed, Schools Education Officer, Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool; and Sandra Hallergard, Artist/Member of both LSA Arts Society and The Arts Society Fylde.

As in previous years, participating students were invited with their families to the Opening Preview event. This included teaching staff from the schools and colleges, including Head teachers and Principals, in addition to Mayoral Civic groups from Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, colleagues from the North West Arts Society, and visitors from links with art education within the Fylde area.

Guests at the Preview evening

This year we were pleased to welcome Hilary Alcock to open the occasion. Hilary was our founder Chair of Fylde DFAS, 2009 and is now the newly-appointed National Vice Chair of The Arts Society. It was a joy to have her return and a pleasure to hear such words of wisdom, acquired through many years of training teachers, her passion for art and her heightened experience as a Trustee of The Arts Society for the past three years. Hilary applauded the high standard of artwork displayed and congratulated the teachers for providing students with such a wealth of creative skills. In sharing her warm appreciation and understanding of young artists, Hilary called for students to continue striving for further higher qualifications in the arts; she encouraged them to consider some of the exciting new opportunities now arising in the workplace, especially those incorporating the ever-expanding skills of technology and science, yet within the world of art.

Hilary Alcock opening the event

Hilary presented our own Society’s prizes to three of our exhibitors for outstanding merit: First Prize was awarded to Danica Taylor (Lytham Sixth Form College), for her Self Portrait; Second Prize went to Emily Cobb (Rossall School), for her work entitled Journey; and Third Prize was won by Hannah Muir (Cardinal Newman), for her work Blue Theme.

Hilary also presented her own Hilary Alcock Prize to Anna Richards, Blackpool Sixth Form College, awarded for a sensitive range of artwork, developed within a project relating to Alzheimer’s Awareness.

Hilary Alcock presenting a prize