Scotland’s newest art prize claimed by sculptor

A SCULPTOR from Aberdeen has been named the winner of Scotland’s newest art prize.

Ben Martin has won a three-month residence to work at Glenfiddich’s whisky distillery in Dufftown.

Martin, who has won the £10,000 Glenfiddich Artist In Residence Award, will have his work displayed at the distillery as part of his prize, which he won for a large-scale sculpture made of rope and steel weights.

It was selected from work by 70 artists taking part in a major new showcase of emerging talent, which is opening at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh tomorrow.

The 30-year-old, who grew up in Aberdeen, and studied multimedia design at Aberdeen College, before studying sculpture at Gray’s School of Art in the city.

He said: “My overwhelming focus is on personal experience.

“The simple development of loading weight on the end of a line of rope and creating tension allows me to draw in a three-dimensional space.”

The prize was launched under a new partnership between the RSA and William Grant and Sons, owners of the distillery. Martin will join seven other artists from around the world who will be based at the distillery this summer.

The Glenfiddich Artists in Residence programme is believed to be the largest privately funded artists residency programme in Scotland.

Founded in 2002, it has hosted more than 100 artists from 20 countries, including the USA, China, India, Spain and Chile. Scottish artists who have taken part include Alison Watt, Christine Borland, Louise Hopkins, Kenny Hunter and Alex Frost.

Andy Fairgrieve, programme coordinator, said: “The standard of presentations in this year’s exhibition is a great reflection of the amazing pool of creative talent emerging from Scotland’s schools of art and design. As judges, we had our work cut out in selecting a single winner.”

RSA director Colin Greenslade added: “This award is an amazing opportunity for an emerging artist to engage not only with their own practice but with the research and making processes of their international peers at Glenfiddich.

“This fantastic prize of studio, stipend and production fees along with exhibition and collection opportunities will stand Ben in great stead for the next stage of his career.”