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SCAF Emerging Artist 2024 Exhibition - Catalogue - Perception

The SCAF Emerging Artist Award was created to encourage and support up and coming artists who are living in the Yorkshire region.

The SCAF Emerging Artist Award was created to encourage and support up and coming artists who are living in the Yorkshire region.

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<strong>2024</strong> AWARD<br />

EXHIBITION CATALOGUE<br />

Exploring the<br />

Subject of <strong>Perception</strong>


Scott Creative Arts Foundation


<strong>2024</strong> AWARD<br />

EXHIBITION CATALOGUE<br />

Exploring the<br />

Subject of <strong>Perception</strong>


Introduction<br />

The <strong>SCAF</strong> <strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> Award was<br />

created to encourage and support up<br />

and coming artists who are living in the<br />

Yorkshire region.<br />

The intent of the award is to bring<br />

recognition and awareness to outstanding<br />

visual artists in the region who are at the<br />

early stages of their career and who have not<br />

yet established a reputation as an artist<br />

amongst art curators, buyers, critics and the<br />

general public.<br />

The creation of the award was one of the<br />

most emphatic wishes of the Foundations<br />

benefactors, Michael and Eileen Scott, and<br />

we are delighted to exhibit the submissions<br />

from our <strong>2024</strong> finalists.<br />

Scott Creative Arts Foundation


<strong>Perception</strong><br />

For this year's award the subject for the<br />

submitted pieces and our current exhibition is<br />

Art is the story of perception. <strong>Perception</strong> in art<br />

is deeply complex including the subjective<br />

response of the viewer, the intention of the<br />

artist and external influences such as social<br />

pressure that seeks to persuade us to interpret<br />

something in a certain way.<br />

<strong>Perception</strong> in art is also deeply intwined with<br />

psychology. Our brains are hard wired to see<br />

structure, logic and patterns to help us to<br />

make sense of the world we live in. Survival<br />

often requires rapid interpretation of our<br />

surroundings and to that end our brains have<br />

evolved to continually make shortcuts to<br />

speed up the process of visual perception.<br />

These shortcuts are often exploited in art<br />

and design.<br />

Congratulations from all at <strong>SCAF</strong> to our<br />

talented finalists.<br />

The <strong>2024</strong> <strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> Finalists<br />

Becky Long-Smith<br />

Gareth Bell<br />

Imo Dunkley<br />

Louise Ventris<br />

Mouse<br />

Vanessa Oo<br />

Zoe Maxwell<br />

Zoe Phillips<br />

Mia Mai Symonds<br />

<strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> <strong>2024</strong> Award


Judging Panel<br />

Dr Sue Armstrong<br />

<strong>Artist</strong>ic Director & Trustee of <strong>SCAF</strong><br />

Sue Armstrong is the Founder of the Scott Creative Arts<br />

Foundation and the current <strong>Artist</strong>ic Director. Sue was a close<br />

friend of Michael and Eileen Scott and is dedicated to realising<br />

their wishes through the work of the Foundation. Providing<br />

support and encouragement to emerging artists was a<br />

major priority for the Scott’s and to be holding the fifth <strong>SCAF</strong><br />

emerging artist award is a testament to her commitment to<br />

<strong>SCAF</strong>. Sue, like the Scotts is a passionate believer in the value<br />

of the synergistic relationship between arts and science.<br />

Robbie Fife<br />

<strong>Artist</strong><br />

Robbie Fife (b.1988 Harrogate, UK) lives and works in North<br />

Yorkshire. Fife completed an MFA in Painting at The Slade<br />

School of Fine Art, UCL, London (2014) and has twice been<br />

an artist-in-residence at The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation<br />

– Connecticut, USA (Nov/Dec 2015) and Carraig-na-gcat,<br />

Ireland (Sept 2019).<br />

Selected recent exhibitions include Native, Willoughby Gerrish,<br />

Thirsk Hall Sculpture Garden, Thirsk (solo) (2023); Locals,<br />

Willoughby Gerrish, Jermyn Street, London (solo) (2022);<br />

Summer <strong>Exhibition</strong>, Royal Academy of Arts, London (2022);<br />

Kist, Oliver Projects at 155a Gallery, London (solo) (2021);<br />

Without You My Life Would Be Boring, Staffordshire Street<br />

Studios, London (2020); Used For Glue, Studio 2, Staffordshire<br />

Street Studios, London (2019); Odds, The Other MA (TOMA) at<br />

Royals Shopping Centre, Southend (2019); Summer <strong>Exhibition</strong>,<br />

Royal Academy of Arts, London (2019); 9 <strong>Artist</strong>s: Thin House,<br />

London (2018); Nightswimming, LLE at Mission Gallery,<br />

Swansea, Wales (2018); Sightseers, g39, Cardiff, Wales (2018);<br />

ODDS, Studio 7, Assembly Point, London (2017); Outhouse, May<br />

Project, London (solo) (2016); Robbie Fife, Paulina Michnowska,<br />

Jacopo Natoli, News of the World, Deptford, London (2015).<br />

Scott Creative Arts Foundation


Jess Kidd<br />

Multidisciplinary <strong>Artist</strong> and <strong>SCAF</strong> EAA 2023 Winner<br />

Jess Kidd is a Yorkshire Based multidisciplinary artist, with a<br />

current focus on mixedmedia painting. She graduated from<br />

Central Saint Martins in 2008, however, her practice has reemerged<br />

recently, after serious illness in her mid-20s. Jess is<br />

inspired by art that provokes people to reconsider the familiar.<br />

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) informs both her creative<br />

process and her subject matter. She aims to challenge people's<br />

thoughts towards where we live, encouraging celebration<br />

and appreciation. She loves to experiment, play with and<br />

manipulate materials, and is driven by a passionate intention<br />

to convey her interpretations of reality. Alongside winning the<br />

<strong>SCAF</strong> <strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> Award 2023, Jess was also awarded the<br />

Joan Day Bursary by South Square Centre, Thornton, resulting<br />

in her first solo exhibition. She has exhibited both individually<br />

and in group shows and runs occasional workshops.<br />

Eloise Ross<br />

Art & Design Project Officer at York & Scarborough Teaching<br />

Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust and Freelance Photographer<br />

Elly enjoys working on collaborative and community-based<br />

arts events/social projects and regularly sees how the power<br />

of art can enhance people's experiences. Her role within the<br />

hospitals involves engaging patients, visitors, and staff in a<br />

creative way to help improve their stay, visit and place of work<br />

through exhibitions, music, participation and enhancements<br />

of the hospital environment. The aim of these varied artistic<br />

practices is to provide opportunities for people to feel included,<br />

connected and inspired via an ongoing programme of artistic<br />

exhibitions and events at the different Hospitals. In her<br />

freelance work Elly has worked for many different organisations<br />

in the Yorkshire region and she has acted as a judge for<br />

several photography groups and curated Arts projects. What<br />

she loves about the arts is how it engages interest; provides a<br />

positive experience; breaks down barriers and preconceptions;<br />

stimulate memories; promotes collaborations and provides<br />

respite or space for reflection. She is excited to see what<br />

artistic talents can be discovered and shared to a wider<br />

audience in <strong>2024</strong> by the <strong>SCAF</strong> <strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> Award.<br />

<strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> <strong>2024</strong> Award


The title, rewoven rainbow refers to a passage<br />

from the poem, Lamia by John Keats (1820). Keats<br />

expressed sadness at what he felt was the reduction<br />

of natural wonder to cold facts. A rainbow, no-longer<br />

a goddess but refracted light entering the retina.<br />

BECKY<br />

LONG-SMITH<br />

Rewoven rainbow<br />

Lino print and hand<br />

embroidery on paper<br />

60cm x 60cm<br />

‘…Conquer all mysteries by rule and line,<br />

Empty the haunted air, and gnomed mine -<br />

Unweave a rainbow…’<br />

Human perception is, in this case, more than the<br />

individual’s visual experience - it is the body’s<br />

chemical and emotional responses to what one<br />

sees. To perceive a rainbow we must first separate<br />

light into its component parts but it is only through<br />

the interweaving of these ‘visual components’ with<br />

knowledge, memories and emotions that we truly<br />

perceive anything at all.<br />

www.beckylongsmith.com<br />

Scott Creative Arts Foundation


The Caregiver depicts Jim, a tattoo<br />

artist who has worked in studios in<br />

London, Brighton and Leeds.<br />

GARETH BELL<br />

The Caregiver<br />

Oil on MDF<br />

89cm x 67cm<br />

In 2008, Jim started to notice changes<br />

in his mum, Christine’s, behaviour.<br />

It began with mild episodes of<br />

confusion, but over the next few years<br />

progressed into something<br />

that couldn’t be ignored.<br />

In 2016, Christine was diagnosed with<br />

early onset Alzheimer’s Disease.<br />

At this point, Jim moved back up north<br />

to care for his mum. Over time, her<br />

world has shrunk, her failing memory<br />

narrowing the lens through which<br />

she perceives her life and those<br />

in it. Throughout this time, Jim has<br />

remained a constant presence for her.<br />

As Christine’s perceptive faculties<br />

diminish, so Jim’s perceptions have<br />

changed too: as well as caring for his<br />

mum, he’ll soon be a father himself,<br />

bringing what’s important into even<br />

sharper focus.<br />

This piece aims to challenge our<br />

perceptions - of caregiving, of<br />

masculinity - as what we see, and<br />

how we interpret what we see, only<br />

ever tells a fraction of the story.<br />

<strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> <strong>2024</strong> Award<br />

www.garethbell.art


IMO DUNKLEY<br />

Sense<br />

Photomontage<br />

61cm x 51cm<br />

In response to the theme of '<strong>Perception</strong>', I asked a<br />

group of participants in the Leeds nightlife scene<br />

to photograph their nights out using digital and film<br />

cameras. Before I gave the participants the cameras,<br />

I interviewed each participant about how they<br />

perceived the cultural significance of nightlife and<br />

their viewpoints on its past, present and future. After<br />

this conversation, I sent them on their separate nights<br />

out and asked them to document the entire journey.<br />

It was intriguing to see what each participant focused<br />

on, whether that be people dancing and celebrating,<br />

the paraphernalia that's involved, or the venues they<br />

went to. After developing and printing the photos,<br />

I collaged the photographs together onto a board,<br />

to create a homage to nightlife, exploring the range<br />

of feelings and emotions associated. A symbolic<br />

group night out.<br />

www.imodunkley.com<br />

Scott Creative Arts Foundation


During the late 1970s and early1980s Wilma McCann,<br />

Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson, Patricia Atkinson,<br />

Jayne McDonald, Jean Jordan, Yvonne Pearson, Helen<br />

Rytka, Vera Millward, Josephine Whittaker, Barbara Leach,<br />

Marguerite Walls and Jacqueline Hill, were murdered<br />

by Peter Sutcliffe.<br />

LOUISE VENTRIS<br />

13 Portraits - Threads<br />

through time<br />

Oil on Panel<br />

100cm x 100cm approx<br />

During the investigation there was a perception that<br />

the women were ’not innocent’ and somehow guilty or<br />

responsible. The perception that these women, some of<br />

whom were sex workers were less valuable and had an<br />

effect on how seriously the Police took the killings.<br />

Portraits in history have been used to show the beauty,<br />

wealth or power of an individual. There is a permanence<br />

to a painting and I wanted to create oil portraits of each of<br />

these women to acknowledge their value.<br />

<strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> <strong>2024</strong> Award<br />

www.louiseventris.art


Mimesis is an output of an on-going exploration into<br />

the visual manipulation, exposure and emphasis of<br />

the woven structure, a re-presentation of a form and<br />

material which fills our everyday.<br />

MIA MAI<br />

SYMONDS<br />

Working across processes and practices of sculpture,<br />

weaving and image-making, these explorations are<br />

made to interrupt the perception of this ubiquitous<br />

but unseen everyday structure, whilst expanding the<br />

possibilities of its material language.<br />

Mimesis<br />

Hand-woven silk<br />

trapped in art-glass,<br />

wooden frame<br />

72cm x 72cm<br />

www.bymiamai.com<br />

Scott Creative Arts Foundation


My work is an introspective look at our connections with<br />

infinity. The work is comprised of a hand painted wooden<br />

carving, divided in the middle with acrylic mirror panels.<br />

The reason for the mirror is to show connected infinities<br />

in untouchable dimensions. The idea that infinities and<br />

connections can “cross” dimensional space is a big part<br />

of my overall artistic concept as it could lead us to answer<br />

surrounding our own consciousness.<br />

MOUSE<br />

Infinite Connection<br />

Wooden and acrylic<br />

mirror sculpture<br />

50cm x 80cm x 50cm<br />

(approx.)<br />

<strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> <strong>2024</strong> Award<br />

www.instagram.com/wyartistmouse/


Four prints capture the unseen energy, magic and tension<br />

in a given moment. A cross forms in the middle: the flag of<br />

England and a medical emblem.<br />

1. "Alright" is a casual English greeting. You pass a<br />

stranger; there is an instant judgement. Time shifts;<br />

you see something different. You never see the whole.<br />

VANESSA OO<br />

Alright<br />

Screenprint and<br />

letterpress<br />

on paper<br />

91cm x 95cm<br />

2. “Alright" might be an unexpected voice next to marks<br />

like these. As a British-born person of Chinese/<br />

Burmese origin, there is sometimes a disconnect<br />

between how I perceive myself and how I am seen<br />

from the outside.<br />

3. "Alright" means satisfactory. We say we are alright<br />

when we are not. A bland label hides the complexity<br />

beneath.<br />

www.vanessaoo.co.uk<br />

Scott Creative Arts Foundation


The painting, Skirting Board Lake, combines<br />

multiple scenes to encourage the viewer to question<br />

perception and accuracy of recollection. This process<br />

compresses time and place to create a confabulated<br />

scene, a false recollection. A place where trees are<br />

either floating, hovering slightly or just swaying in<br />

the wind.<br />

ZOE MAXWELL<br />

Skirting Board Lake<br />

Oil On Canvas<br />

100cm x 90cm<br />

Within the landscape of the painting, internal and<br />

external features are merged. The title of the work<br />

brings attention to the skirting board, wrapping around<br />

the perimeter of the body of water. But the ducks are<br />

stood, or sat, not floating. There are reflections and<br />

then there aren’t. The surface seems to be water,<br />

yet also contradicts the typical qualities. All these<br />

subtle contradictions create a dreamlike and<br />

disorientating setting, challenging typical perceptions.<br />

<strong>Emerging</strong> <strong>Artist</strong> <strong>2024</strong> Award<br />

zoecmax.wixsite.com/zoe-maxwell


ZOE PHILLIPS<br />

‘If I gave you a bowl’<br />

Mixed Media: Porcelain,<br />

brass, oak leaves,<br />

beeswax, resin<br />

31cm dia. approx:<br />

13cm deep<br />

Why an oak leaf? Because the Oak tree is traditionally<br />

seen as a symbol of strength, it’s majestic and reliable.<br />

Solid and grounded. And from little acorns, mighty<br />

oaks grow.<br />

If I gave you a bowl…<br />

If I gave you a bowl, you’d know what to do with it?<br />

If I gave you a broken bowl? Then what?<br />

It’s useless right?<br />

Wrong.<br />

Lens shift.<br />

Perspective.<br />

….seeing the world differently doesn’t mean we are<br />

‘broken’.<br />

It means, all it takes is a change of perspective to value<br />

the human in all of us.<br />

If I placed this ‘broken’ bowl in a museum, is it’s story<br />

and existence worth more?<br />

Change the environment.<br />

Shift the perspective.<br />

www.deckleandhide.co.uk<br />

Scott Creative Arts Foundation


JOIN US<br />

AT<br />

<strong>SCAF</strong><br />

Partner, Internship and<br />

Volunteer Positions Available<br />

We would love to hear from you:<br />

scottcreativeartsfoundation.org.uk<br />

LINKTR.EE/<strong>SCAF</strong>OUNDATION<br />

Charity registered in England and Wales: 1168545


Search ‘Creative Arts at Leeds City College’<br />

ACTION!<br />

Brought<br />

to you by


<strong>2024</strong><br />

Becky Long-Smith<br />

Gareth Bell<br />

Imo Dunkley<br />

Louise Ventris<br />

Mia Mai Symonds<br />

Mouse<br />

Vanessa Oo<br />

Zoe Maxwell<br />

Zoe Phillips<br />

Scott Creative Arts Foundation

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