Young artists from Ulster University and Glenola Collegiate in Bangor among winners in the prestigious competition

The winners of the prestigious 2024 Bradley Art Prize have been revealed.

The competition, led by acclaimed Belfast artist Terry Bradley and sponsored by Telecoms and IT solutions provider Radius Connect, is designed to give young creatives a chance to showcase their work alongside some of the most respected names in the local arts sector.

Open to entrants across three age categories from 14 to 18, 19 to 23 and 23 years plus, almost 200 artists entered, with up to four submissions per entry.

Ulster University student Holly Hooks, winner in the 19 – 23 category, took the overall prize while 16-year-old Erin McDaid from Bangor won the 14 – 18 title. Bradley Brimacombe, 25, also from Bangor, took the top spot in the new Over 23 category.

The winners of each category have been chosen by an esteemed panel of judges, including Terry and his wife Ashley Forsythe, Director NI Executive Brussels, Aodhan Connolly, CEO at Titanic Belfast Judith Owens MBE and James Devlin from Radius Connect.

Winners and runners up in the competition, also supported by Bradbury Art, Titanic Belfast and the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels, will have their work displayed at Titanic Belfast alongside Terry’s ‘Dockers & Dolls’ exhibition across the summer and share in a total prize pot worth more than £5,000 in cash and art materials for themselves and their schools and colleges.

Terry said: “We have been blown away once again by the extraordinary calibre of the work presented. The technical ability, creativity and professional approach of the artists who have engaged with the competition has been out of this world, making our job as judges an incredibly tough one. We were really pleased with the launch of our new Over 23s category, which received a strong number of entries.

“And overall we’re thrilled with the impact and interest the Bradley Art Prize has had over the past two years and would like to extend our thanks to everyone involved, including those who entered, as well as the schools and universities which provided support to this extremely capable and talented cohort of young artists.

“I am passionate about supporting up and coming artists in Northern Ireland and am delighted to share their work alongside my own. Congratulations to all who entered.”

Overall winner Holly Hooks, who lives in Belfast, impressed the judges with her piece ‘Colour Beyond The Male Surface. Fellow University of Ulster student Tara Drew, also 19, who lives in Newtownabbey, was named runner-up in the 19 – 23 category for her work ‘Emotions’.

Erin McDaid, 16, who goes to Glenlola Collegiate, Bangor, was named winner of the 14 – 18 group for her piece, ‘Distorted’, with Jenna Ferguson, 17, who attends St Dominic’s Grammar in Belfast, selected as runner up for her work ‘Daydreams’.

Bradley Brimacombe was confirmed as winner in the Over 23 category for his piece ‘Love Me Until I’m Me Again’, with Nichola Bloomfield-Hood, 61, from Newtownabbey, placed as runner-up for ‘Tattoo’.

Five artists have also been shortlisted for a ‘People’s Choice Award’, which will go to a public vote at Titanic Belfast alongside winners and runners up, with visitors invited to choose their favourite to win a cash prize of £250.

These include Sofia Hunter, 18, from Antrim, Joy Mawson, 18, from Banbridge, Zara Craig, 16, from Ballyclare, and Jiale Chen, 17, from Antrim, from the 14 – 18 category, with 56-year-old Patricia Mooney from Belfast, from the Over 23s category.

James Devlin, Head of Enterprise Sales at Radius Connect, which sponsored the Bradley Art Prize competition, said:

“This has been another fantastic year for the Bradley Art Prize, and as sponsors of the competition we are delighted to have been involved in the initiative once again, providing aspiring artists with a platform to showcase their work, and encourage them to pursue a career in the creative industries.

 

“This exhibition, carefully curated by Terry Bradley and his team, is an amazing opportunity to shine a light on the artistic achievements of our talented young people and give them a taste of what a future in the arts sector could look like. I’d like to extend my congratulations to everyone who took part, and wish them success in the future as their artistic journey continues.”

The 11 artists joined Terry Bradley at Titanic Belfast as he launched his latest exhibition on Wednesday (June 26th), Dockers & Dolls, with winning, runner-up and shortlisted artwork to be showcased alongside Terry’s pieces throughout the summer.

A further exhibition will follow at the Bradley Gallery in Victoria Square, Belfast, as well as in the Northern Ireland Executive office in Brussels.

The free exhibition opened to the public from Monday 1st July for two months in the iconic venue’s Andrew’s Gallery. The exhibition includes a full immersive video experience to take visitors inside the mind and art of Terry Bradley while honouring the hard-working men and women who worked in the area’s docks, linen mills and factories. The darkness into light theme represents Terry’s journey with mental health and growing up during The Troubles.

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