Celebrating Esher Art with the new Keith Blackwell Award

Keith Blackwell, a former architectural technician, carpenter and metal worker, was also principal of Esher Sixth Form College from 1998-2010 and known for his passionate (and often provocative) discussions with the art and design staff. So, it was only apt that following his death last summer, we celebrate his legacy with an award that would also seek out students who have demonstrated a deliberate and passionate interest in pushing boundaries and challenging conventions in their creative work.

Students from the College’s creative division including Fashion and Textiles, Fine Art, Graphic Communication, 3D Design and Art and Design were nominated and shortlisted by staff. Judging the final submissions, Laurence Blackwell-Thale, architect and lecturer at the Bartlett School of Architecture UCL, and Keith’s son, said, “Across the board, the work submitted was exceptional. I have to see a lot of portfolios from interview admissions through to final master’s submission and all the work was of a very high standard.  This award is therefore a celebration of the diversity of creativity at this college, as well as a way of continuing Keith’s passions for the arts, in their widest remit.”

Congratulations to shortlisted nominees:

George Witter, Clara Brimblecomebe, Kristen Rose Dauz, Daniela Kvedaras, Jemima Koe, Edrck Dabu, Poppy Clarke and Solomon Reeve

Winner Olive who studied Fine Art and Fashion and Textiles, as well as English Literature A Levels at Esher, gained three A* grades and is now at Kingston University doing an Art Foundation Diploma. Laurence, who presented her with the award and a one-year V&A membership, said, “I was particularly drawn to Olive’s process of unanswered questioning. Her final exam piece on ‘spiralling forms’ revelled in asking what if, making suggestions of scale, form, materiality, and allowing the viewer to project their associations as well as be told explicitly of its intentions.”

And his advice to the students, “Please keep drawing, sculpting, weaving, knitting, modelling, printing, painting and make sure you always have a sketchbook in your back pocket and a keen eye for the world around you.”