Art, Artists and Big Wins: What's Happening at the New Light Exhibition in the North?

Ever feel like all the big art events happen down in London? Well, think again. There's a massive buzz happening up North, and it's all about celebrating incredible local talent. A charity called New Light is putting on a huge summer exhibition in Leeds, and it's properly brilliant.

It’s a chance to see some amazing artwork and, even better, they've just announced that nine artists have each bagged a £500 prize. It’s a big deal for these artists and for the whole Northern art scene. This is more than just an exhibition; it's a massive boost for artists making their mark.

The big announcement: who are the bursary winners?

So, the New Light Summer Exhibition of the North is currently running at Sunny Bank Mills in Leeds (you might recognise the mill from the BBC's The Sewing Bee!). It’s on until 10 August 2025, so you’ve got plenty of time to pop over. The exhibition was open to any artists with a connection to the North, and the talent on display is just unreal. A panel of expert judges had the tough job of picking just nine bursary winners from a huge pool of fantastic artwork. Each winner gets a £500 bursary, which is a fantastic prize that can make a real difference.

Here are the talented artists who scooped the prize:

• Susan Liggett (Chester)
• Ian Brooks (Howarth)
• Judy Clarkson (Harrogate)
• Helen Pailing (North East)
• Scott Davison (Sheffield)
• Lucy Waters (Newcastle)
• Sarah Louise Hawkins (Manchester)
• Claire Ong (Newcastle)
• Helaina Sharpley (Mirfield)

It's amazing to see such a spread of talent from all across the North. Let's get into what made their artwork stand out.

More than just a pretty picture

So, what kind of art won over the judges? Let's start with Susan Liggett. Her painting, 'Twilight', was selected by art critic Laura Gascoigne. It was made using egg tempera, which is a really old-school technique where the artist mixes pigments with egg yolk. It creates this amazing, glowy finish. Laura says of the painting: “Modest in scale and ambition, Twilight isn’t concerned with making an artistic statement but with observing an effect of light. Dusk has fascinated British artists from Atkinson Grimshaw to George Clausen, and with its sensitive balance of tone and colour this poetic little painting perfectly captures the dreamlike quality of twilight.”

Susan says the win has been a huge confidence boost: "Winning this has given me renewed confidence in my recent decision to leave my day job and commit fully to my art practice... The bursary will enable me to invest in some new specialised cadmium and cobalt pigments, helping me develop a new body of work over the coming year." What a great story about a Northern artist taking a leap of faith!

Then there's Ian Brooks, whose piece 'Port Lockroy' caught the eye of judge Anne Desmet. His artwork is an aquatint etching – that’s a type of printmaking that creates really atmospheric, textured images. Anne Desmet says: “This outstanding etching recalls the work of the late, great Norman Ackroyd RA, yet maintains its own strong individual character.” High praise indeed!

Ian Brooks says he's honoured: “It's an honour to be awarded this bursary, and in particular to be selected by Anne Desmet... I’ll look forward to putting the prize to good use in making a new body work over the coming year.”

Celebrating northern roots and bold choices

The judges weren't afraid to pick some really striking pieces. Curator Beth Hughes selected a powerful oil painting by Judy Clarkson called 'Inside Out'. Beth says: “This is a really arresting painting. It has an uncomfortable physicality; the subject’s dynamic pose is both vulnerable in its instability and assertive through the strong limbs and fixed gaze. The artist has a real command of light and shadow on the skin which contrasts with the saturated flat colour of the background, giving the painting great variety of texture.”

For Judy Clarkson, this prize is personal. She says: “New Light is a very special organisation and close to my heart. Although I now live in London, I was born in Harrogate... I’ll always be a Yorkshire girl, so this celebration of Northern artists is for me, personally, very significant... Awards of this kind are always about more than money (though always very welcome!). They endow validation and recognition.” This really shows how much this exhibition means to the artists.

And what about using unusual materials? Artist Linnet Panasche Rubaya selected 'Good Luck Serpents' by Helen Pailing. This piece is made from salvaged borosilicate glass (the super-tough stuff from science labs!), wool, and wood. Linnet says: “I was so pleased with the quality of the artwork submitted but the glass stood out! I was drawn to the use of materials and the consideration and attention to detail really made an impression.”

Helen says she was thrilled to be selected and to be part of an exhibition in a place that means so much to her, having grown up nearby.

From upcycled ceramics to modern masterpieces

The range of art styles among the bursary winners is massive. Scott Davison's mixed media piece 'Revolvo' was chosen by artist Christopher Cook, who says he “enjoyed the playful clash of painterly and reprographic languages.” Scott Davison says he's buzzing from the win and that "New Light has taken a bold step in their inaugural Summer Exhibition of the North."

Then we have Lucy Waters, whose artwork 'Polarity' was selected by George Harris from The Bowes Museum. At first glance, it looks like a classic blue and white ceramic piece. But look closer, and you'll see it's made from upcycled materials with a deeper meaning. George says it “really stood out as a great artwork and a worthy winner.” Lucy says the bursary will be a "much-needed boost in energy, which can be vital for an artist to keep going!" It shows how important this prize is.

Writer and curator George Vasey chose 'Shapeshifter' by Sarah Louise Hawkins, an acrylic painting on plywood. He says: “The work is visually impactful, repaying repeated viewing. There is also a sense of vision and skilful execution.” For Sarah Louise Hawkins, this prize is a game-changer. She says: “To have been selected by George Vasey for this award has given me a wonderful boost of encouragement and confidence... The bursary will go directly to supporting my art practice, enabling me to purchase materials to make bigger and more ambitious work.”

Finally, we have 'Solitary Summer' by Helaina Sharpley, a sculpture made from iron wire. It was selected by gallery owner Steve Williams, who says, “As soon as I saw it I just loved it. It literally jumps off the wall at you.” What a fantastic reaction to an artwork!

Why you should check out this exhibition

This whole exhibition is a massive celebration of the incredible art and artists we have right here in the North of England. Rebekah Tadd, the CEO of New Light, says that with all the buzz around Bradford City of Culture 2025 and the Turner Prize, they want to keep the spotlight firmly on the region's talent. This summer event in Leeds is a key part of that.

So, if you fancy seeing some thought-provoking, beautiful, and seriously impressive art, get yourself over to Sunny Bank Mills before 10 August 2025. It’s a chance to support Northern artists and see for yourself why the judges were so blown away by this year's bursary winners. From painting to sculpture, and from traditional techniques to super modern ideas, there’s an artwork for everyone. You won't be disappointed by this amazing display of art from the North.