New light art: Prize shows depth of northern talent, says winner

The winner of a prestigious art prize from the north of England said it showed the „tremendous depth” of the region’s talent.

Frances Bell, 40, who won the top prize at the New Light Awards ahead of an exhibition in Birkenhead, said it was beyond her „wildest dreams”.

Bell, from Wooler, Northumberland, said the show left her feeling „very optimistic” about Northern art.

Other prize winners came from Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Teesside.

The New Light Art charity presents biennial awards with prizes in five categories and winners and shortlisted artists will feature in an exhibition at the Williamson Gallery in Birkenhead.

Bell received the £10,000 prize for her work titled Lockdown, which features a poignant scene from the days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

„This painting was done at the tail end of the second lockdown, which affected us all,” he said.

„When I think of the painting the atmosphere of that time comes to me, almost like a time capsule from the past.”

He said the exhibition, which will go on a 14-month tour of the UK after the Merseyside show, is „very optimistic about the future of Northern art”.

„Such an ambitious exhibition, with so many amazing venues, and months of touring around the country, to show alongside such a rich body of work,” he said.

„There is great depth to the arts community in the North and this show demonstrates that.”

Other winners included Robert Cook, Poulton-le-Fylde, who won the Patron’s Choice Award for his wildlife painting, Bog Bumper Emerging from the Mos, and Preston’s George Melling, who won the Emerging Artists Award for his work. She feels that he has lost his mind, which is based on his past photos.

Neil Bousfield, from Middlesbrough, won the printmakers prize for his engraving and woodcut, while Christine Staples, from Stockport, won the purchase prize for Art of Balance, using a combination of acrylic paint, glazes and inks.

New Light Development Director Rebecca Dodd said the quality and standard of artwork submitted was „incredibly high”.

„Once again, the shortlist has demonstrated the enormous wealth of talent that exists in the north of England,” he added.

The New Light Prize exhibition runs until 22 December at the Williamson Gallery in Burgenhead.