The Discerning Eye Bursary Award 2005

The DE Bursary was first awarded in 2002. It is an annual award, the winner being selected by the DE Educational Advisory Board, whose members are currently Tom Coates, David Gluck, Willa Beckett and Anita Taylor. Past winners include Jonathan Edgar of the Frink School of Figurative Sculpture in 2002 and Stuart Pearson-Wright, via The Prince's Drawing School.

′Strausberg′ by finalist Annabelle Shelton

′Strausberg′ by finalist Annabelle Shelton

This year, the panel members decided to grant a "drawing" bursary, drawing being at the root of all work featured in DE activities – Tom Coates commenting that "Drawing is the basis of everything; a starting point for all. Whichever way an artist choses after that is up to them."

The 2005 award, of £1,000, was open to anyone via an advertisement in the Artist Newsletter magazine, artists being invited to submit up to six transparency slides or digital images of their work, along with a written application giving their reasons for deserving the bursary and telling DE how they would spend the money.

The Board was mindful not to define 'drawing', to enable the broadest possible interpretation.

The advertisement generated a response of 32 applicants and Board members met on 13 October 2005 to review and discuss the applications. They were impressed by the high quality of the works submitted and the variety of media and the approaches and techniques used.

′Chinese Sketch Book′ by finalist Joan Gabie

′Chinese Sketch Book′ by finalist Joan Gabie

Willa Beckett said that she was "glad that there were different interpretations of ′drawing′, both representational and conceptual. Drawing informs an artist's practice."

Four finalists were chosen – Joan Gabie, Susanna Harris-Hughes, Annabelle Shelton and Tiziana Mazzoli.

A selection of the finalists' work will be on display at the 2005 DE Exhibition and the winner of the bursary will be chosen and announced at the Artists Private View on Thursday 17 November 2005.

DISCERNING EYE EXHIBITION 2005
'Being' by Lesley Carruthers chosen by Catherine Goodman
and
'5 ladies, Japan' by Alistair Taylor chosen by Joan Bakewell