Awards joy for Gray’s students as degree show 2025 opens
Monday 09 June 2025
Gray’s School of Art was transformed into a high-quality exhibition space with an event marking the first night of the annual exhibition held on Friday 6 June.
After four years of hard work, students have been working around the clock, to put the finishing touches to their projects from across a range of disciplines. The event is free, and members of the public will have the opportunity to purchase artefacts on show.
As part of the celebrations the Principal’s Design & Fine Art Awards, which are funded by RGU’s Art & Heritage Collection, were presented by RGU Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Olivier and Dean of Gray’s School of Art Professor Dan Allen.
Showcasing artistic brilliance, the awards commend standout individuals from Painting, Contemporary Art Practice, Communication Design, Fashion & Textiles, Three-Dimensional Design, and Photography.
Winner of the Principal’s Award for Fine Art is Kiera Cormack from Fine Art.
Winner of the Principal’s Award for Design is Sinead Calder from Three-Dimensional Design.
The award-winning artworks will become part of RGU’s esteemed Art and Heritage collection, showcasing the university’s creative legacy and the artistic talent of the North East of Scotland.
Students who received Highly Commended Award (RGU Art and Heritage Purchase Prize Awards) are Claire Maria Carey – Fine Art – Moving Picture, Anna Swapp – Fine Art – Painting, Matthew Urquhart – Fine Art – Sculpture, Innes Gregory – Communication Design, Hannah Jane Redmond Reid – Fashion & Textile Design, and Sam Tarvit – Product, Ceramics Jewellery.
A number of external awards were also presented including the RSA New Contemporaries Award: Scottish Society Artist’s Award, Compass Gallery, and Visual Arts Scotland Award.
Professor Allen, Dean of Gray's School of Art, said: “The degree show is undoubtedly a highlight in the North East’s cultural calendar, and it is an amazing opportunity for our students from a range of different disciplines to showcase their talents over the next week. Throughout their studies, each of the final year students have come through their own amazing creative and personal journeys which undoubtedly inspire and will help them through the next stages of their artistic lives.”
Special recognition awards were given to students celebrate students who truly embody the ethos of Gray’s School of Art and have gone above and beyond, overcoming personal or academic challenges, and making a positive impact on their course, peers, and wider community.
- Special Recognition Award for Communication Design - Sofia Burnham
- Special Recognition Award for Fashion & Textile Design - Sophie Mancellon
- Special Recognition Award for Photography - Vicky Brown
- Special Recognition Award for Product, Ceramics, Jewellery - Dylan Cundall
- Special Recognition Award for Fine Art - Nicole Mackintosh
The degree show is open to the public now and runs until Sunday 15 June are 10 am to 8 pm on weekdays and 10am to 5pm on weekends.