On Friday 20 June 2026, learners, staff, friends and family gathered in the WM College Library for the annual Lowes Dickinson Art Awards, celebrating the outstanding creativity and achievements of adult learners across the College.
The awards formed part of this year’s Open Exhibition, which showcased the work of more than 135 artists studying across WM College’s art and design programmes. Throughout the exhibition, artwork was displayed across the College, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the breadth and diversity of talent developed through our courses.
The exhibition featured an impressive range of disciplines, including painting, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, sculpture and mixed media. Together, the works reflected the skill, imagination and dedication of learners at every stage of their creative journey.
Named in honour of Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson, one of WM College’s founders, the Lowes Dickinson Art Awards recognise exceptional artistic achievement. This year’s judges faced the difficult task of selecting winners from an exceptionally strong field of entries, highlighting the remarkable standard of work produced across the College.
The awards ceremony recognised the artists whose work particularly impressed the judging panel while also celebrating the wider community of learners who contributed to the exhibition. The event reflected WM College’s commitment to creativity, lifelong learning and artistic exploration.
Beyond the awards themselves, the exhibition gave visitors the chance to engage with work created by adult learners from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Every piece told its own story, showcasing personal interests, technical development and creative ambition.
Sharon, winner of the Ceramics Award, said:
“I’m absolutely thrilled and touched to receive the Ceramics Award at the Lowes Dickinson Open Exhibition 2026. As someone whose background bridges both medicine and art, my ceramic practice has become a way of exploring themes of fragility, repair, resilience and human connection through clay.
“It means a great deal that the judges recognised not only the technical and material aspects of the work, but also the ideas and emotional reflections behind it. WM College has played an important role in supporting and nurturing my practice. This award gives me renewed confidence to continue developing my work and pushing the possibilities of storytelling through clay.”
Congratulations to all of this year’s exhibitors and award winners. Their creativity, dedication and talent made the 2026 Lowes Dickinson Open Exhibition a truly inspiring celebration of artistic achievement.