Isle of Man Students Prize 2025

Adrienne Burnett is the former Head of Ballakermeen High School. She has a strong background in the arts, having trained in drama and education. She taught drama in a range of schools, as well as regularly contributing to trainee teacher undergraduate courses.

A former member of the North West Arts Council and the Education Panel of the Duke’s Theatre, Lancaster, Adrienne’s responsibilities in England included developing community arts and children’s theatre in education programmes. She continued to promote theatre for young people when she moved to the Isle of Man, helping to create and promote the Studio Theatre at Ballakermeen as a community venue, including introducing live streaming of arts events to the island. She also served for two terms on the Isle of Man Arts Council.

Carola Rush has enjoyed a lifelong career involved with the visual arts, working within the fields of: professional photography; art and media education (in both the formal education sector and less formal gallery arenas); exhibition curation, organisation and design; support and promotion of artists, and art venue management. She has had a passion for visual art from an early age and loves to see a similar passion emerging in young people today. Carola has been involved with the Sovereign Art Prize since its first year on the Isle of Man and feels privileged to have seen some of the best artworks produced by young people during that time. Although now semi-retired, Carola remains voluntarily active within the arts on the Isle of Man through the Creative Network, a collective of nearly 70 artists living and working on the Island. Through the Network, Carola jointly organises the IOM Art Festival and other arts initiatives, most recently she has been involved in the organisation of the developing Silverburn Art Trail, a public amenity running from Castletown to Silverdale Glen.

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. 

Jade Boylan is a Manx artist and designer. She currently works full time as the Arts Engagement Officer for the Isle of Man Arts Council as well as running her online brand the Candy Doll Club where she sells products featuring her designs to customers all over the world. While much of her contemporary work is predominantly digital, her preferred mediums are acrylic and spray paint, painting large scale pieces and murals reminiscent of Pop Art or Superflat art. Her work often embodies themes of nostalgia and feminism, incorporating characters from 80s and 90s pop culture along with a strong ‘girl power’ and ‘girl gang’ aesthetic evident in most of her pieces. Find out more about Jade at https://www.candydollclub.com/ and the Arts Council at https://www.iomarts.com/

As an Army daughter, Lady Lorimer spent much of her childhood overseas – in Africa, Germany and Norway. She went to school in Dorset and then went on to read Natural Sciences at Durham University. In 1987, she was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals, serving in 30th Signal Regiment and deploying on operations in Namibia with the United Nations and in the Middle East during Gulf War 1. She left the Army after six years to pursue a career in the Defence industry, where she worked for various companies, including the Racal Electronics Group and Exensor UK ltd, selling and marketing specialist communications and security equipment to the Police, Ministry of Defence and other agencies.

From July 2017 – June 2022 Lady Lorimer was the Commanding Officer of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps) (FANY (PRVC)). The FANY is a thriving charity, whose all-female volunteers are an essential component of the United Kingdom’s emergency response capability. Members of the Corps are on call 24/7 to provide support to civil and military authorities at times of national crisis.

Lady Lorimer and her husband have three grown-up sons. Her interests include keeping fit, hill walking, cross-country and downhill skiing, and water sports. She is never happier than when exploring beaches and searching for interesting creatures in rock pools.

Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE was educated at Marlborough College, Wiltshire and Pembroke College, University of Cambridge. He joined the British Army in 1981 and was commissioned into The Parachute Regiment. He served in all three regular Parachute Regiment battalions and commanded 3 PARA from 2000 to 2003. His service saw multiple operational deployments in Northern Ireland, Iraq, the broader Middle East and Afghanistan.

At higher command, Sir John commanded 12th Mechanized Brigade in Iraq and Afghanistan and 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. He also completed a year-long tour in Kabul as Deputy Commander of the NATO force. He was Chief of Joint Operations from October 2014 until June 2017, commanding all of the UK Armed Forces global operations. His final military appointment was as Defence Senior Adviser Middle East and North Africa, a role he held for three years.

Sir John was sworn in as the 31st Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man at Castle Rushen on 28 September 2021.  The tenure for the appointment is five years. Sir John is married to Philippa. They have three grown-up sons. His outside interests include most sports, especially rugby, skiing, walking and history. Sir John was appointed an Extra Equerry to His Majesty the King in 2023.

As an accountant by profession with a background in education, I’ve always believed in the power of learning and expression to shape futures. Whilst my day-to-day role is rooted in finance, my personal life is steeped in creativity. My family includes a lecturer at the Glasgow School of Art and a professor of contemporary art practice at Edinburgh University. Their passion has inspired my own quiet journey with watercolour and pottery, and I often describe myself as a “frustrated artist at heart.”

Supporting the Sovereign Art Foundation Prize (Isle of Man) is a natural extension of both my professional values and personal interests. The Arts are strongly supported by Standard Bank Group across the continent we call home, Africa, and at Standard Bank Offshore, we are committed to empowering the next generation locally too. This initiative beautifully combines youth development with artistic expression. It’s a privilege to help create opportunities for young people to explore their creativity, build confidence, and find their voice through art.

We believe that nurturing talent, whether in finance, education, or The Arts, building stronger, more vibrant communities. That’s why we’re proud to support the U16s prize and the incredible young artists it celebrates.

Phil Games is the Chief Executive Officer of Simcocks Advocates and one of the most prominent private client lawyers on the Isle of Man. He acts as a trustee and director on certain client structures and assists clients not only with legal issues but also with the strategic development of their businesses. He has considerable expertise in advising wealthy international families who want to restructure their personal and commercial interests as well as advising on estate planning, complex trust and probate matters. Simcocks was established over 75 years ago and is recognised by the Legal 500 as being one of the leading firms on the Island, providing skilled advice across most areas of law. Find out more about Phil and Simcocks at www.simcocks.com.