Community Arts 2023 – Poppy Hinde

Poppy Hinde was our Bursary Award winner for the Best Foundation Student 2023-24 at Warwickshire College of Art, based at Royal Leamington Spa College.

Poppy received her award from Chairman of The Arts Society RLS, Keith Roberts, with Edwina McConville, Co-ordinator of Community Arts and members of the College staff.

Poppy’s work included notebooks, oil paintings and weaving, which was shown in the School of Art’s end of year exhibition. 

One visitor was so impressed she decided to buy one of the project’s oil paintings for her house, giving Poppy her first professional sale. 

A total of 42 students on the college’s Art and Design course were in the running for the award, with the originality of Poppy’s work and her dedication to learning winning her an unanimous first place. 

The bursary award will be given over a three-year period to support Poppy during her studies at the celebrated UAL Camberwell College of Arts, where she will study a BA in Fine Art: Drawing.

She said: “I was delighted to have won the award, it is great to be recognised by my tutors and I’m really grateful to The Arts Society for the award and the bursary. The bursary funds will help with building up my arts supplies and materials throughout my course”.

Arts Volunteering 2022 – Sharandeep Kaur

Sharandeep Kaur, the recipient of the Bursary for the best Foundation Year student 2022 at Warwickshire college received her certificate and cheque from Shaun Pitt in June. In the autumn, Sharandeep will start a Fashion course at Kingston University.

Arts Volunteering 2021 – Hannah Smith

At the end of June, Shaun Pitt and Edwina McConville presented a certificate and cheque to Hannah Smith, who was nominated the best Art Foundation Year student in Warwickshire College for 2020-2021.  Hannah showed her portfolio of fashion drawings, with items designed specifically for disabled people.  In the autumn, Hannah will begin a course in fashion design at Central St Martins, which accepts very few students on this particular course.

Receiving the award Hannah said, “My fashion focuses on where disabled people fit in fashion, as there is certainly a lack of visibility for disabled people in the industry. I’ve wanted to go for Central St Martins for years and it’s a real dream for me. The bursary from the Arts Society will help me when I get there”.

Arts Volunteering 2020 – Cara Stephen

Many congratulations to Cara Stephen on being awarded The Arts Society RLS annual Bursary for best Foundation Year Student 2020 at Warwickshire College.

Cara will begin her architecture course at the beginning of October at Central St Martin’s.

Young Arts 2019 – Jem Crook

Jem Crook – the recipient of our 2019 Bursary Award at Warwickshire College.

Jem is one of only 40 entrants admitted to The Slade this year. A fellow student from Warwickshire College has also begun to study at The Slade. This is indicative of the excellent tuition and encouragement that the Foundation Students receive at the college.

Congratulations Jem!

Young Arts – Spring 2019

A children’s art competition for all primary schools in Leamington was organised in collaboration with Leamington Art Gallery. The theme “Spring”, was chosen to celebrate the reopening of the Pump Room Gardens.

The children used found materials for their art work which was later exhibited at the entrance to the Art Gallery.

Prizes were awarded to the three schools which had participated and the children received certificates.

Young Arts 2018 – Sophie Ryan

Sophie Ryan was our 2018 Bursary Award winner at Warwickshire College.

Sophie impressed us with the commitment she showed to her work and the quality of the work in her portfolio.

Sophie is now studying fashion at Manchester School of Art.

Round Oak School

At the beginning of December 2017, Round Oak School saw the unveiling of a colourful, new piece of art work in the school’s entrance hall. It was made by over 100 pupils working with textile artist Jacqui Smithson.

Jacqui worked with groups of children over four days, teaching them about the history of felt and how to make it using Merino wool, silks and threads. Inspired by the environment around them and by the name of the school, the felt was formed into leaves, acorns and twigs. This project was particularly appropriate for the pupils who have learning difficulties ranging from moderate to severe. They were encouraged to talk about the materials as they enjoyed the tactile experience.

We were very fortunate that we were able to obtain a grant from the Patricia Fay Memorial Fund towards the project, the balance being met by our Society.

Bursary Award Winner – 2017

We were very pleased to award The Arts’ Society, Royal Leamington Spa Bursary Award for 2017 to Romany Cavalla.

This is an annual award that is given to the best student at Warwickshire College.

Romany impressed us and her tutors at the college; she was a very dedicated and hard-working student. Romany based much of her work on the human body. She is now studying fine art at Brighton.