Martin Darbyshire who graduated from BA (Hons) Fine Art in 2015 has been announced as the joint winner of this year’s Woon Discretionary Prize. Martin was awarded the prize at an award ceremony held at BALTIC 39 in Newcastle.
Launched in 2012 by Northumbria University and sponsored by Singaporean businessman Wee Teng Woon, the Woon Foundation Painting and Sculpture Art Prize is open to all final year Fine Art students studying in the UK. The combined £40,000 competition prize is equal in value to the biggest art award in Britain, the Turner Prize.
Image: Martin Darbyshire, Untitled 2015. Steel, concrete, veneered chipboard, paint, varnish, plaster, shellac, concrete pigment.
Image: Martin at the Woon Prize award ceremony at BALTIC 39.
The award is the second Martin has received this year; he was also awarded the Kenneth Armitage Young Sculptor Prize 2015 along with fellow Leeds College of Art student Alex Bresthwick.
Martin said: “As artists our primary role is that of communication, so to get recognition for your work from people within the world of art provides a great confidence boost.“
Image: Martin collects the Kenneth Armitage Young Sculptor Prize
The Woon Discretionary Prize goes jointly to Martin and to Jadé Fadojutimi who will each receive £2,500. The Woon Foundation Painting and Sculpture Prize Exhibition continues at BALTIC 39 until 2 August 2015.
