Celebrating the achievements of students and staff
02.03.2021
Swansea College of Art's Annual St David's Day Lecture and Awards welcomed well-known presenter and producer Huw Rees as this year’s guest speaker. Huw, better known as Huw Fash, talked about his experiences and career within television in Wales and the way in which he has been able to combine his ability to speak Welsh with his expertise in the fashion industry.
During the evening Awards were presented to celebrate the achievements of those studying or learning within the College of Art as well as noting their commitment to the Welsh language or Welsh culture. This year awards were presented to Owain Sparnon, Osian Clever, Ffion Richardson, Lois Davies, Lesley Morgan, Siwan Thomas, Catrin Morris, Ellie Shutt, Alys Shutt, and Siȏn Storm Macbean.
Fine art student Owain Sparnon said: “Studying through the medium of Welsh (the language of my home and school education) has been very important to me. I've had excellent opportunities and made connections with Welsh speakers across Wales. Thank you UWTSD and Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol for very valuable experiences.”
Osian Clever, a student of Music Technology said: “Thank you for the award! It's been an absolute pleasure working with others using the Welsh language. I hope to keep working with the language, through writing My ambition is to develop my journalistic skills through, with the hope of pursuing a career in television or radio”.
Ffion Richardson, who studies Surface Pattern Design said: “I’m a final year student specialise in interior-maker. I dabble between a range of areas such as ceramics, stitch and print where I express the harmonies between shape and colour. I find inspiration from nature and seascapes which I often incorporate into my university projects”.
Lois Davies, is also a Surface Pattern Design student said: “I am a third-year student, specialising in printed textiles for interiors and fashion. My designs begin through hand drawing, painting, and collage which I develop digitally on Photoshop or screen-print on cloth. I often have an abstract approach to design and find inspiration from nature and different environments”.
Glass artist, Lesley Morgan said: “Glass has been a part of my life since I was a child. I enjoy creating beautiful and meaningful glass which embraces the natural world and is a reminder of moments that affect how we feel about others and ourselves”.
Siwan Thomas, a Surface Pattern Design student said: “To date, I’ve been exploring ‘the tactile exchange – maker to user’, focusing on designing for play and interaction. As a maker, I control joy and harvest interaction by making and building tools to encourage play and curiosity. Physically realising concepts using techniques to juxtapose and contrast colour, form and pattern”.
Catrin Morris who studies Photography in the Arts said: “The theme Wales and home run strongly throughout my practice. There is an abundance of interesting history in Wales, and thankfully it makes for a generous subject”.
Ellie Shutt, a student of Automotive Design said: “I’ve always felt that being able to speak Welsh was a privilege and part of me worried that I’d lose the skill going to university. How wrong I was! The opportunities Welsh has given me throughout university can never be taken away from me, and I will forever be grateful!”
Illustrator Alys Shutt said: “Being able to complete part of my degree in Welsh has allowed me to explore a range of ideas when creating and developing my illustrations. I’m more confidant and grateful that the opportunity to use the language at university was there as I wouldn’t be the illustrator I am today”.
Illustration student, Siôn Storm mc-bean, said: “Inspiration for my work comes from monsters, this is something that interests me in my research and practice. The use of the monster in children’s stories influences my work as their use in literature works on many different meanings.”
Special awards were also presented to staff to recognise their support and contribution to the development of the Welsh language at the University. This year awards were presented to Caroline Thraves, Academic Director of Arts and Media, Eilir Owen Griffiths, Director of Canolfan Perfformio Cymru (Wales Performance Centre) and Iwan Vaughan, Lecturer in Illustration.
Caroline Thraves said: “It’s been a privilege to have had the opportunity to work with Gwen Beynon on developing a bilingual culture within Swansea College of Art. I think it is fair to say that when we started 6 years ago, we started from a baseline where there was only one way to go and up we went! With two determined women leading we saw barriers as something we had to find a way around. We are now in a place where bilingualism is the norm at Swansea College of Art, and I am extremely proud of this achievement and the journey we have been on”.
Lecturer and artist Gwenllian Beynon, who is responsible for Swansea College of Art's Welsh language provision, concluded: “Congratulations to all our winners. We value their dedication and contribution to Welshness within the University. Swansea College of Art is very proud of its Welsh heritage and the University is extremely keen to celebrate the achievements of its art and design students. It is very important to hold this type of event and mark St David's Day as it is a celebration that is so important to us in Wales. We organise an annual lecture with the emphasis on the arts element - something that is visual or suited to our fields - and it was so wonderful this year, to welcome Huw to present the lecture and the awards to our winners".
View the awards
Further Information
Eleri Beynon eleri.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk
