The Glass Sellers’ & Contemporary Glass Society Graduate GLASS PRIZE and NEW GRADUATE REVIEW 2024.
CGS is very pleased to be joined once again by the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers and Professor Mike Barnes to offer this exciting Prize & New Graduate Review 2024 to this year’s Graduates.
As part of our ambition to support emerging graduates at the beginning of what they hope is a long career in glass making, CGS offers an annual Graduate Prize and produces the New Graduate Review, featuring the work of some of the best of the UK’s glass art graduates emerging from British, Irish, Universities and Colleges. To enable CGS to do this we are grateful to receive funding and support from the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London Charity Fund together with Professor Michael Barnes MC FRCP and our other sponsors, Creative Glass, Pearsons Glass, Warm Glass, Neues Glas and Alan J Poole.
The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers’ is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Granted a royal charter by Charles II, today the role of the company is to stimulate interest in the many and varied aspects of glass and carry out charitable works, with special emphasis on education.
The judges had a long and arduous task in selecting the 4 Prize Winners; 4 Highly Commended, and the 9 Commended graduates to be included in the New Graduate Review 2024. This year there will be two First Prize’s plus two Runners Up.
New Graduate Review, 2024.The review will also be published as a supplement to the November issue of the international magazine NEUES GLAS – NEW GLASS: art & architecture and will be sent to all subscribers.
Glass Sellers’/ CGS 2024 Graduate Glass Prize and the graduates to be included in the
1st Prize – Helen Restorick – University for the Creative Arts, Farnham – MA
1st Prize –Lu Shi – BA Fashion Design in Knitwear, Central Saint Martin’s School of Art in University of The Arts London also working at Morley College
Runner Up – Bethan Yates – Royal College of Art, London MA
Runner Up – Sue Simmons – University of Sunderland BA
Highly Commended – Charis Constantinou – Swansea Collect of Art UWTSD
Highly Commended – Nancy Farrington – Swansea Collect of Art UWTSD
Highly Commended – Brynn Hill – University of Sunderland BA
Highly Commended – Sophie Longwill – Royal College of Art, London, MA
Commended – Matt Turner – Manchester School of Art, BA
Commended – Liz Waugh McManus – University of Sunderland PhD
Commended – Evan McKenna – National College of Art and Design. BA Ceramic & Glass
Commended – Maria Donnai – Hull College. BA in Fine Art
Commended – Kieran McQuillan – University for the Creative Arts, Farnham – BA
Commended – Kathleen James – University of Sunderland BA
Commended – Joanne O’Mahony – MTU Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork, Ireland. BA
Commended – Shonah Escombe – Forth Valley College BA
Commended – Jo Guile – Royal College of Art, London, MA
The selection panel comprised of Monette Larsen – artist, Professor Michael Barnes – glass collector/ CGS Trustee, Sarah L. Brown – glass artist/ CGS Trustee and Leigh Baildham from the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London Charity Fund.
We are also grateful to Alan J. Poole for his tireless work in tracking down all glass students graduating in 2024 and encouraging them to apply for the Prize.
“During a challenging time in higher education with an ever-dwindling number of courses related to glass, it is a delight to see the continuing strong set of entries this year. The inspiration and imagination shown demonstrated the thought that had been applied to all work submitted. As ever, the task for the judges was made harder by the wide diversity of style and design of the glass work. In an unprecedented decision, it was resolved that two First Prizes would be awarded this year. The reason behind this decision was that the judges wanted to recognise two very different kinds of work using glass embracing the fashion world, along with the more traditional form of studio glass. So much promise for the future!” Leigh Baildham WCOGS.
“It was a pleasure to be a judge for the Graduate Prize again. The quality of the entries always amazes me, especially at these difficult times for glass. This year was especially tricky, as we had difficulty deciding between the eventual winners with two such different approaches. In the end, the decision to award two First Prizes seemed fair and reflects the high quality of those two entries with such different styles of glass. Well done to them both! And well done to everyone who entered. I really hope that some of you will pursue a career in glass. What you have achieved so far shows that if you choose to, you have a future in this exciting industry”. Michael Barnes CGS Treasurer and Collector.
“It was lovely to see a very broad range of techniques represented throughout the applications. I wish them every success for the future. “Sarah Brown
“It was a delight to see such a variety of glass making techniques being explored in conjunction with a multitude of ideas in the entries. Not only from students in glass programs but also by graduates in other programs. I hope to see them all continue to push their skills and ideas in the future. I wish all the graduates’ success with their work.” Monette Larsen, Artist & Educator.
Helen Restorick – Joint Winner
Lu Shi , Glass Dress Joint Winner
All British and Irish students graduating from an accredited course in 2023 were eligible to enter.
Joint First Prize x 2 includes:
£500 in cash,
£100 Creative Glass UK vouchers,£50 Warm Glass voucher
Cover of the Graduate Review & two feature pages inside,
Two years’ C.G.S. Membership,
Alan J. Poole will provide a selection of glass related books, including ‘A Passion for Glass’,
A year’s free subscription to Neues Glas.
Two Runners Up both receive:
£50 vouchers from Pearsons Glass,
A year’s Membership to C.G.S.
A year’s free subscription to Neues Glas
C.G.S. received a total of 35 applications from sixteen colleges/universities, including Central St Martins, UAL, City of Glasgow College, Forth Valley College, Hull College, University of Wolverhampton, Manchester Metropolitan University, Morley College London, Arts University Plymouth, Royal College Of Art, London, University for the Creative Arts at Farnham, University Of Sunderland, University of Wales Trinity St David Swansea, National College of Art & Design Dublin, Crawford College of Art and Design part of MTU University, Cork, Ireland, Manchester School of Art.
The Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) is widely regarded as the foremost organisation in the UK for promoting, supporting and encouraging cutting edge contemporary glass and glass-makers within the wider art world. Website: www.cgs.org.uk
The Prize & Review were sponsored by
Pro. Michael Barnes MD FRCP, The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers’ Charity Fund, Creative Glass, Pearsons Glass, Warm Glass, Neues Glas, New Glass Art & Architecture and Alan J Poole
Penny Carter Totem Poles
I love storytelling, creating beautiful artworks with an interesting or even dark back story, and using what people have called my quirky character to make people smile. I believe art is good for the soul and for mental well-being, and I try to bring art into as many people’s lives as possible.
For the past 13 years, I have dedicated myself to building my studio and establishing my career as a glass artist. My primary medium is glass, which I transform into visual narratives using silk screen printing, traditional glass paints, and enamels.
