Chester Students Prize

Born March 1956 in Methil, Fife, Scotland, David Mach joined Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art from 1974 to 1979. He experimented with ideas and techniques claiming them as his own, continuing to develop them today. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in 1982 Mach became a Royal Academician in 1998 and has been appointed professor of Inspiration and Discovery at Dundee University.

One of the most prolific artists of his generation, Mach has extensively exhibited his work worldwide developing his artistic style based on flowing assemblages of mass–produced objects from magazines & newspapers, car tyres, matches to coat hangers, soft toys, pins, nails, etc.

Selected major public installations include Temple at Tyre in Edinburgh, Here to Stay made with 145 tonnes of the Daily Record and Polaris, a submarine made out of tyres outside the Hayward Gallery on London’s South Bank.

Public commissions sculptures include the sumo wrestlers It Takes Two in Paris and Marseilles, Out of Order in Kingston upon Thames made out of telephone boxes, Train in Darlington, the Big Heids of Scotland’s M8, the UK’s Portrait of a Nation commissioned for the Millennium Dome, Precious Light at the CAC in Edinburgh, Incoming in London and No Place Like Home in St Austell.

Mach continues on a furious schedule constantly developing new ideas, new works and new materials. This latest work, The Oligarch’s Nightmare will set him off on a whole new branch of his art, combined with his music and writing we can expect to see exciting new works.

Photo Credit: Paul Murphy

Howard Bilton, a British-born entrepreneur and barrister, has made a multifaceted impact on tax advisory services, philanthropy, and the wine industry in Portugal and beyond. His ventures reflect a unique blend of business acumen and social responsibility, creating a lasting legacy in each sector he touches. 

Tax

As the chairman and founder of The Sovereign Group, Bilton has significantly influenced the tax landscape, particularly for expatriates and international businesses. The Group provides comprehensive tax planning and wealth management services, which help clients navigate complex tax systems. By doing so, it supports individuals and companies to optimize their tax positions within the legal framework, fostering an environment that is conducive to foreign investment and economic growth in Portugal. 

Charity

In the realm of charity, Bilton’s establishment of The Sovereign Art Foundation has made a notable impact on the local and international art scenes. The foundation not only recognizes and supports artists through awards and exhibitions but also raises substantial funds for charitable causes. A significant portion of its work is dedicated to using art as a medium for educational and healing purposes, particularly for disadvantaged children. Through these initiatives, Bilton has harnessed the power of art to make a tangible difference in the lives of many, providing both cultural enrichment and social support. 

 Wine

With Howard’s Folly, Bilton has ventured into the wine industry, intertwining the worlds of oenology and art. The winery is known for producing high-quality wines that reflect the rich terroir of Portugal, contributing to the country’s reputation as a producer of fine wines. Beyond the production, Howard’s Folly serves as a cultural destination, hosting art exhibitions and events that attract visitors from around the world. This unique concept not only promotes Portuguese wine but also elevates the cultural experience of wine tasting, setting a precedent for how wineries can engage with the arts. 

Overall Impact

Howard Bilton’s impact in the fields of tax, charity, and wine is characterized by a forward-thinking approach that leverages professional expertise to foster cultural and social development. By integrating his business endeavors with philanthropic goals, Bilton has shown that commercial success can go hand-in-hand with making a positive social contribution. His efforts have provided a model for sustainable development, showcasing how individual dedication to professional excellence and social responsibility can lead to broad and beneficial societal impacts. 

Jim Wheat is an authentic engaging, passionate self taught Artist, strategic brand development specialist and contemporary creative who harnesses internal and external influences and emotive responses to help create and drive vibrant, authentic and engaging Artworks, messages, brands, causes and communities both in the physical realmand the metaverse dispensing energy along the way.

Thriving on connecting the dots and forming WIN : WIN partnerships, turning ‘ME’ into ‘WE’ with an often unfiltered contagious childlike energy during these disruptive times.

I have drawn, painted and printed all my life but didn’t go to art college, and only started working in the arts when I got back home after a spell in North Africa. I worked in the community arts in Liverpool for most of my working life, and started teaching art to adults. During this time, I gained a Masters in Contemporary Arts from Liverpool University, and a Masters in the Psychology of Human Potential from the Liverpool John Moores University.

I was a member of the Liverpool based artists group Collaborative Phenomenon. We spent a week in Paris taking part in an Open Studios event, where we exhibited, painted, and took part in discussions about women’s art.

I left Liverpool to go back to Oswestry, where I was a founding member of Borderland Visual Arts, a local contemporary arts group, and also began to practicing etching. I have done a number of artists residences including at Erddig, Wrexham, and the Whittington Music Festival, and I’ve exhibited in many group shows in the UK (most recently being invited to show with Chester Visual Arts). I also have work in several private collections around the world including Australia and the USA.

My work can be 2D or 3D, it can make use of muslin, paper, canvas, clay; found objects, photography or collage; acrylic, watercolour or oil. I am not constrained by wanting to work in a particular way, so in effect I work in whatever medium I think is best for the ideas and the context of what I’m working on – sometimes learning how to use a medium or technique as I go along.

Julie Colclough is a professional artist who graduated with a BA (Hons) in Illustration from Manchester School of Art in 1983, from where she was immediately represented by London’s premiere illustration agency. She began her career illustrating over a hundred bookcovers including several updates of ‘The Famous Five’ for UK and European publishers. She is also the author & illustrator of picture books published in the UK, Europe, Canada & Australia. Other clients have included The Sunday Times Magazine, Singapore Airlines, The Post Office, Royal Life Insurance, BT, ICI, Kelloggs, the NHS and Teachers Whisky.

Julie is passionate about drawing and painting from life, running weekly life drawing workshops for 20 years and keeping sketchbooks wherever she travels. These have always inspired her paintings for galleries, particularly in the Lake District. Since 2019 Julie has worked from her studio in the Julie Colclough Gallery on the Rows of Chester, where customers can purchase the latest artwork inspired by her travels and of course, Chester & the local area. Now semi-retired, however artists never really stop being inspired to paint.

Lindsey is a printmaker and photographer whose practice explores the interplay between the two disciplines. Working primarily with photopolymer etching plates, she creates work that bridges traditional printmaking techniques with contemporary digital processes.

Her work examines how light transforms both grand architectural spaces—particularly historic buildings and educational institutions—and intimate everyday moments. Her Daily Rituals series captures the poetry of overlooked reflections in domestic spaces, revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Lindsey holds a BEd Hons. in Art and Education from University College Chester (Academic Award for Art) and an MEd in Arts Education. She was awarded a Research Fellowship investigating ‘The Role of the Computer in Fine Art Printmaking,’ research that continues to inform her hybrid approach today. Lindsey worked as a teacher for over 30 years. She currently works from her Northern Lights studio in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle.

Recent exhibitions include the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition London, Royal West of England Academy Bristol, Boghossian Foundation Brussels, Global Print Biennial Portugal, and venues in Oxford, Liverpool, and Antwerp.

Paul Curtis is a UK-based artist specialising in large-scale murals and street art, with over seven years of professional experience and more than 250 completed public works, many of which are nationally recognised. He is the UK record holder for the largest painting ever created by a single artist and was the sole focus of Liverpool’s first street art exhibition, held at the Royal Liver Building in 2024. His work spans community, cultural and commercial projects, collaborating with local authorities, global brands, Premier League football clubs and major media productions. Widely awarded for artistic excellence and community impact, Paul brings a high level of creative judgement, technical expertise and cultural awareness to any judging role.