Travers Smith LLP is delighted to announce the winners of the 2016 Travers Smith Art Programme developed in association with the University of Westminster.
Following an exhibition of 32 shortlisted artworks selected from the degree shows of final-year undergraduates of the University of Westminster, Travers Smith has now awarded prizes to two winning artists.
The winner of the prize selected by an independent panel of judges comprising Catrin Griffiths, (editor of the Lawyer magazine), Jessica Fulford-Dobson (freelance photographer and prize winner at the The National Portrait Gallery's Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Award in 2014), David Storey (artist and Threadneedle Prize finalist) and Renata Bandeira (artist and sculptor) is Declan Driver, who won the £3,000 prize for his artwork Inhumanly Possible.
The winner of the prize awarded by the Travers Smith staff vote went to Mamon Hawkins, who received the £2,000 cash prize for her artwork Burst.
The winners were announced by Travers Smith’s senior partner Chris Hale at a reception in the firm’s London office on 10 May 2016.
Additionally, Travers Smith ran a silent auction of the 32 artworks, enabling the firm’s staff and clients to purchase works from the vibrant and diverse art collection, which were on display in the firm’s offices between October 2015 and May 2016.
Travers Smith’s Art Programme, which was launched in September 2015, is an exciting addition to the firm’s portfolio of CSR projects and plays an important part in the firm’s work to support local communities and nurture emerging talent. It is principally designed to encourage and nurture final-year Visual Art Undergraduates, but also assists with the transition from student life to professional practice.
In addition to showcasing and facilitating the sales of art students’ work and awarding cash prizes, the artists have also been offered a range of support including workshops on professional development and business skills and legal advice relating to their professional development as an artist.
Travers Smith partner Daniel Gerring commented: “Many congratulations to the winners of the 2016 Travers Smith Art Programme. We are delighted to have been able to support such a talented cohort of students from the University of Westminster. We have been very impressed by the commitment of the young artists and truly inspired by their beautiful and compelling artworks.
The Travers Smith Art Programme is an important and growing part of our CSR agenda and we are very proud of what we have been able to achieve in its first year in association with the University of Westminster."
Matthew Smith, one of the governors of the University of Westminster, commented: "It is a real privilege for the Westminster School of Media, Arts and Design to have been chosen as partner for the Travers Smith Art Programme. Our participating students have greatly benefited from their engagement with Travers Smith. The programme has given a significant public exposure to our students’ artworks and provided the artists with invaluable practical support, much needed for their professional development in a highly competitive environment."