Creative Boom

Lights, camera, action for award-winning student

2012-05-18T11:48:00+01:00

A creative cameraman from Edge Hill University has scooped a prestigious film award for his artistic flair.

Chris Grindley a third year student studying Film and Television Production, is part of the winning team in the recent Ffresh Student Moving Image Festival of Wales.

The 22-year-old from Chorley, together with Chris Marsh and Liz Chester were given the Best of Festival Award at the event for their experimental film The Passing of Mother Prudence.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I found out we’d won, I was over the moon, and it was such a cool experience. Working on the film was a huge challenge as it was a very quirky, experimental piece, so to be acknowledged for our style and effort is brilliant news.

“From a personal point of view, the project really tested my skills as a cameraman and was good work experience for me. The team had an idea of the kind of shots they wanted and it was great to use my own creative skills and technical support to get the best images. We worked together really well as a team and I’m glad our work has been recognised.”

Congratulating Chris on his achievement, Dr Mark Fremaux, Programme Leader for Film and Television Production, said: “I am delighted that Chris has won this award, he has showed flair for his work and I hope that it is the start of a promising career in the industry.”

Now in its 10th year, the festival features the best student work from Wales, the UK, and abroad, along with masterclasses, panel sessions and workshops with some of the industry’s most renowned and respected figures. Previous guests have included directors Stephen Frears, Sergey Dvortsevoy, and Gaston Kaboré; screenwriters Andrew Davies and Tim Firth; producers Stephen Garrett and Sally Hibbin; highly acclaimed visual artists Lichtfaktor and Semiconductor; international FX companies The Mill and Double Negative; Oscar winning editor Jim Clark; and animators Johnny Kelly, Phil Mulloy and Peter Dodd, amongst many others.

The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the best work being created by the up-and-coming moving image talent from around the world, and to provide a vital link between higher education and the media sector. It is organised by The Festivals Company Limited on behalf of Ffresh Ltd.

Trudy Creen

2012-05-18T10:03:00+01:00

Trudy Creen is an artist and illustrator working out of Belfast, Northern Ireland. She was recently commissioned to produce the cover for world-renowned electronic music artist Surgeon’s “Breaking the Frame" LP.

Trudy's recent solo show, “Birds. Eye.” consisted of pieces based around themes of nature and society, explored via recurrent images of birds, eyes and other naturally- occurring symbols. Trudy explains, “Birds have character and are also for me a symbol of freedom. Eyes and stars and winged creatures/angels are shapes I've always drawn since I was little. Circles are quite symbolic, whole and 'female'. These elements come together to form a dramatic scene in each piece.” Various media and materials are employed in her work to achieve the desired results.

Please contact trudy.creen@mac.com for further information, sales, or commissions. Or visit her Portfolio or Blog.

Going to a soirée

2012-05-18T09:45:00+01:00

A design event soirée can sometimes be pretty hellish. Arriving at the venue... do I look alright? Is my hair OK? Entering with bated breath. A quick glance around, I head straight for the complimentary bar. Prosecco in hand I turn to face the room. And there it is before me. A gathering of the great and the good, the old and the young, the weird and wacky, the suave and sophisticated, the stylish and dowdy, the pretentious, eccentric, manic and forlorn. It’s all around me in full flowing motion. The guffaws, marbles in mouth, “darling, how nice to see you,” kiss kiss mwah, the stern looks, sly glances, colleagues in huddled cliques, lonely souls, party queens, the glitterati and hangers-on, the cool people, the friendly people, the scary people.

I take it all in as I move around trying to mingle, yet often failing miserably. The work on show might be great, a conversation starter. Inevitably I’ll get stuck with someone who knows it all or thinks they do. I’m too polite to say thank you and move on. Yet my glass is empty. I head to the bar again. Refilled, I’m beginning to feel a pleasant tingle. My nerves are settling. I step away from the bar and move back into the room. I hear it all around me: “Yes hello... how are you... great to meet you... oh me, well I’m a... here’s my card... do get in touch.” Smiles, hand shakes, kisses. I’m a part of it. So many people are charming, delightful, graceful. So many are utterly fake. I prefer to find those that mean what they say, the genuine few.

I do love to be invited to a design soirée, though I may need to steady my nerves to go along. It is fascinating to be amongst so many interesting and diverse people. Some I might run from, others I might run to. For me, it’s one of those necessary evils - the mingling, small talking, shoulder rubbing. I’m happier writing, creating, styling, just being. But of course I need to get my face known, need to get out there, need to be noticed. A room full of strangers is my biggest dread. Get to know a person and I’m fine, but getting to that point is a different matter.

The soirée is a difficult place to make real and genuine connections. It can happen; however in my experience, it doesn’t happen easily. Of course we’re all different and that’s what makes such events compulsive “viewing.” I often long to be the extravert, throwing myself into the crowd, massaging the throng, cracking jokes, getting laughs. But then I wouldn’t be me. And it’s OK to step back and take it all in. I can sometimes be shy so like to be approached. I’m happy making one or two good connections, pocketing those business cards, knowing I will follow them up.

Finishing my second glass of Prosecco, aware I haven’t eaten and so feeling slightly tipsy, I decide it’s best at that point to bow out gracefully. I take my leave, feeling a sense of bewilderment - who were some of those people, and joy - at least I went along and made a mark in my own little way.

Until next time when I do it all over again.

BIMM Bristol announce the Peter Grant Memorial Scholarship

2012-05-18T09:17:00+01:00

BIMM Bristol, the UK's leading college of popular music, has announced a new scholarship, The Peter Grant Memorial Scholarship, in memory of the legendary rock manager best known for working with Led Zeppelin.

The scholarship is for a place on a brand new BA (Hons) degree course, Music Industry Management, which is being launched by BIMM Bristol from September 2012. This course, as with all BIMM programmes, is vocational and designed to act as a springboard into employment. The Peter Grant Memorial Scholarship will cover approx £16,000 of course fees across the three year undergraduate programme.

BIMM Principal Vaseema Hamilton explains, "BIMM have created this scholarship in memory of the one of the most influential figures of the modern music industry."

Peter Grant's daughter, Helen Grant, added, "My father would have been both touched and honoured that this scholarship has been created in his name. He was a great inspiration to many people in the business; not only on the management front, but also in the way he looked after his artists in his own, infamous way! A charismatic personality coupled with great humor, means he is never far away. This is a long overdue accolade. Never forgotten"

Mark Clayden, BIMM Bristol College Manager furthers "We have designed the BA (Hons) Music Industry Management to support up and coming young professionals eager to make their mark in the music industry. We will be training students in all areas of this ever changing industry including: Live Event Management, Retail, Promotion, Record Labels, A&R, Working With Musicians, Finances and Music Law."

As well as managing Led Zeppelin, Peter Grant also worked closely with Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, the Animals and the Yardbirds, to name a few. In 1996, The Music Managers Forum (MMF) award for outstanding achievement in management was renamed the Peter Grant Award in his honour.

To find out how to apply for The Peter Grant Memorial Scholarship call 0844 2 646 666, email info@bimm.co.uk or visit www.bimm.co.uk/bristol.

Seven's Simon Campbell shortlisted for the PPA Designer of the Year for Business Media

2012-05-18T09:14:00+01:00

Simon Campbell, Art Director at award-winning content marketing agency Seven, has been shortlisted for the PPA Designer of the Year award (Business Media) at this year’s PPA Awards. Simon was selected for his outstanding creative work on CIMA’s Financial Management magazine this year.

One of eight finalists shortlisted for the prestigious award, Simon has been chosen alongside other creative heavyweights, including: Tom Carpenter, AJ Specification, Emap; Finnie Finn, I: Global Intelligence for the CIO, Redwood; Jon Morgan & Simon Esterson, The Architectural Review, Emap; Chris Parker, What's Next, John Brown Media; John Rooney, E&T, The Institution of Engineering & Technology; Jeannine Saba, Diplomat Magazine, Diplomat, and Brad Yendle, The Architects’ Journal, Emap.

The PPA Awards are the most coveted in the magazine industry, showcasing excellence, rewarding innovation, and providing the benchmark by which UK publishing judges itself. The categories cover a wide range of disciplines across consumer, business and customer publishing and provide a unique opportunity for magazine brands and individuals to gain national recognition for outstanding achievement over the past 12 months.

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at the Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane, London, on 20 June.

Financial Management (FM) is targeted at global management accountants working in all sectors and all industries, helping them steer their organisations through the difficult economic climate. A total of 183,000 copies of Financial Management magazine are distributed to members of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in 168 countries.

The premier journal for management accountants worldwide. Seven’s brief was to reposition the magazine as a modern, mainstream global business title, and to give it an identity reflecting that. The magazine also needed to be distinct from CIMA’s own brand, but would look at home alongside their vast range of company literature and stand its ground against the many newsstand business magazine and newspapers its members read.

Simon’s fresh creative approach has been key in achieving this. As content is centred around in-depth, intense and sometimes dry financial information, visual solutions are essential, so to offset the text-heavy nature of business content, Simon developed a unique, image-led philosophy.

A visual-heavy template was developed that allowed speedy design but gave the pages individuality and flexibility. Rigorous, appealing typography and grid structure helped create a magazine that is produced to tight deadlines, while allowing for dynamic, attractive and engaging layouts.

All the visuals are original commissions by Simon, allowing him to bring the content to life with its own bespoke feel. Illustration and infographics play a vital role; concepts can range from the broad to the incredibly specific and from the obviously exciting to the not particularly thrilling. Simon’s job is to bring them all to life in the most appealing and exciting way, and carefully commissioned illustrations can solve very tricky problems. The award-winning Noma Bar is a regular contributor and created the first cover. Simon has also used the cream of the world’s illustrators, such as Wilfrid Wood, who created a unique clay model accountant, as well as developing new talent, such as Borja Bonaque and Dmitry Litvin.

Simon’s non-stop creativity and close collaboration with the Financial Management editorial team has helped make the magazine truly successful – and on brand.

As a result of his creative expertise, Simon has been nominated for more than 14 different design awards in his time at Seven, including the 2010 PPA Awards for Grant Thornton’s Elevate magazine (in the same category) and the BSME Awards, in which he was shortlisted for the BSME Art Director of the Year for the second year in 2011.

Seven has had success at the PPA Awards for a variety of publications, Sainsbury’s Magazine is the only magazine to have won the coveted PPA Customer Magazine Award three years in a row. The previous year, Seven won the 2008 PPA Customer magazine of the year for ASOS.com.

Facebook Shares Flotation

2012-05-18T09:10:00+01:00

"There's something Mark Zuckerberg will "like"."

Coventry-built Microcab up for illustrious international design award

2012-05-18T09:01:00+01:00

A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle which was conceived and manufactured in Coventry has been shortlisted for a prestigious international transport design award.

The zero emission machine from Microcab – a spin-out company from Coventry University – was picked out from an array of contenders to be in the running for the sixth annual Condé Nast Traveller’s Innovation & Design Awards.

Condé Nast’s awards celebrate excellence in a number of categories from fashion and gourmet to leisure and sustainability, and its judges – including industrial design guru Sebastian Conran and Top Gear editor-at-large Jason Barlow – chose to shortlist the Microcab for the transport section.

Microcab’s H2EV is up against some stiff competition for the sought-after accolade, with candidates such as the BMW i3 electric car, a 220mph luxury high-speed train and a cableless, gearless electric bicycle all vying for top honours.

The H2EV is the brainchild of John Jostins, professor of sustainable transport design at Coventry University, and is powered by a state-of-the-art 3kW fuel cell which gives the car a 100 mile range. Hydrogen from a filling station is combined with oxygen from the air to create electricity (which drives the car’s electric motors) and water (the car’s only emission) in a reaction known as ‘reverse electrolysis’.

The vehicle was supplied to the West Midlands-based CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrator) trial, and forms a key part of Coventry University’s Low Carbon Vehicles Grand Challenge Initiative – an applied research programme through which the University works with businesses to explore the development of ‘green’ automotive technologies.

John Jostins, managing director of Microcab and professor of sustainable transport design at Coventry University, said:

“It’s an honour for Microcab to be shortlisted for this illustrious award, and I’m delighted that recognition for the H2EV’s success and innovation is extending across continents. This not only represents a boost for hydrogen as an alternative fuel in a low carbon vehicle sector crowded with battery-powered cars, it also shows that in spite of the recession the West Midlands is retaining its position at the cutting edge of zero emission technology development in the UK.”

The Microcab H2EV will be on display in Coventry next month as part of the free-to-attend Coventry Car Day in the city centre. For more information, visit www.coventry.ac.uk/coventrycarday.

James Brown - A Music Video Challenge presented by Saatchi & Saatchi

2012-05-18T08:53:00+01:00

In an unprecedented collaboration between Saatchi & Saatchi, Genero.tv, BUG Music Videos and Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), the music of James Brown will be brought to the attention of a whole new generation through the art of filmmaking.

Saatchi & Saatchi is throwing down the gauntlet to the international filmmaking community by creating a challenge to bring to life some of the most significant tracks of the ‘Godfather of Soul’ in the form of a music video: Sex Machine, Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World, and Try Me. Following the success of last year’s Moby competition, Saatchi & Saatchi wanted to bring a new twist to this year’s competition by working with a legendary artist who has influenced and crossed many generations.

James Brown changed the course of popular music, and UMe and the James Brown Estate are making some of his finest work available for the first time for interpretation by a new generation of film directors. Other than live footage, none of the songs featured in the Music Video Challenge has a music video, so this is a great opportunity for young filmmakers to become the director of the official promo for one of these tracks. On June 1st, UMe will release 20 James Brown albums digitally for the first time. These classic releases are from his back catalogue from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, many of which have been long out of print.

The Grand Prize offered to the winning film director is to work on a project in a key office in the Saatchi & Saatchi global network. Entrants will be given the chance to revisit James Brown’s archive, and interpret it with fresh eyes. Deadline for entries is June 25th, 2012, 23:59 GMT. In addition, UMe is looking for official videos for each of the songs.

The judging panel responsible for selecting the finalists and overall winner will consist of members of the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Creative Board, Genero.tv, BUG and UMe. Also, directors selected for this year’s Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase will be invited on to the judging panel to help select the winner. The 12 finalists will be revealed mid-July and the winner announced on the Genero.tv competition page on July 30th, 2012.

Alongside the digital re-release, the record label will also be re-releasing the classic James Brown Live at the Apollo album this year. Significantly, the album was recorded half a century ago, on October 24th, 1962, at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it as number 24 on their list of the Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In celebration of the album, one of the four tracks available for interpretation by entrants to the Music Video Challenge will be Try Me, one of its featured tracks.

Bruce Resnikoff, President/CEO of UMe said: “This competition will introduce a new generation of fans to the groundbreaking music of James Brown’s catalogue, and landmark 1962 album Live at the Apollo, and what better way to do this than by working with Saatchi & Saatchi’s global network, utilizing BUG’s expertise in the art of the music video, and accessing the filmmaking community through Genero.tv.”

For the first time Saatchi & Saatchi will work with Genero.tv, who are based in Melbourne, Australia, and have more than 65,000 members spanning over 180 countries. Andrew Lane, Co-founder, Genero.tv commented: "We are very excited to offer our community such an incredible opportunity. Being able to work with iconic songs from the legendary James Brown, and to be offering an amazing prize from Saatchi & Saatchi makes this a not-to-be-missed challenge for our filmmaking community."

The winner of last year’s Music Video Challenge was Mexican Vancouver Film School graduate Alberto Gomez, whose prize was to travel to Los Angeles and direct a spot for Conill’s Miami Short Film Festival campaign. In addition, each finalist’s video was featured on Moby’s Destroyed Deluxe DVD. Saatchi & Saatchi’s aim again this year is to provide a platform for the most talented young directors to interpret the work of an iconic musician, and provide them with a global stage for their filmmaking talents.

This year the Music Video Challenge will have an even more international flavour, with the production team hailing from all over the world; UMe in LA; Saatchi & Saatchi in London and NYC; Genero.tv in Australia; and BUG in London. Add to this the phenomenal reach and influence of James Brown, with his international fan base and rich contribution to the tapestry of musical history, and you have a dream brief.

Tom Eslinger, Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Digital Creative Director, commented: "This is the third year that we’ve held a competition to find a truly new director. Having access to music from James Brown, one of the most influential performers of the 20th century, is inspiring for us and anyone who enters. Being part of creating the first music videos through a socially-powered platform like Genero is an honour.”

David Knight, BUG Creative Director added: “BUG is all about giving exposure to the most innovative and awe-inspiring new work in music videos. Our subheading is The Evolution of Music Video – and aspiring filmmakers are no longer limited to making new videos just for new music. They can be inspired by classic tracks too, and this Music Video Challenge is giving them the chance to prove it.”

For more information on the Music Video Challenge, including eligibility and how to enter go to: http://genero.tv/jamesbrown.

Stunning student installation wows design industry

2012-05-18T08:50:00+01:00

Innovative students from Middlesex University are celebrating after seeing a six metre high art installation they created feature as the centre piece of an exclusive three day networking event for the prestigious Milan Design Week.

The piece titled the ‘Bombay Twist’ was made up of six metre high spiralling rings that reached the roof of the building, with blue perspex bottles suspended throughout it. Mesmerising animations were then projected on to the surface of the fabric spiral and the adjacent wall.

Middlesex Product Design and Engineering PhD student Sid Odedra and recent graduate Mandosa On brought the piece to life from the concept, under the guidance of new media designers Moritz Waldemeyer and Florian Dussopt. Animation student Kuba Ludziejewski also assisted designer Florence Yo with designing and testing the striking animations.

The students created the installation and travelled to Milan to set it up at the event titled ‘Gaussian Blur’ which was held in association with drinks company Bombay Sapphire.

Middlesex University PhD student Sid Odedra (30) said: “It was great to have the opportunity to display our work in front of leading designers brought together for an influential design week. The piece got a really positive reception at the event which made all the hard work worthwhile.”

The project was part of an ongoing relationship with high-profile designer Moritz Waldemeyer, who has worked with the likes of Rihanna, Will.I.Am and Kylie Minogue. Moritz has been so impressed with the Middlesex students that he has them working across all of his current projects. Moritz said: “I had three projects running concurrently and couldn’t have completed them without the Middlesex students. They have been working incredibly hard and their reliability, initiative and creativity is outstanding.”

Middlesex Senior Lecturer Debbie Jedwab who organised the project said: “Our relationship with Moritz has provided our students with the opportunity to work on to a number of innovative industry projects for people like Ellie Goulding and Take That. This is fantastic experience for our students’ CVs and working within industry constraints during their degrees will increase the employability of Middlesex students on graduation.”

£72million Museum of Liverpool WINS prestigious national award for excellence

2012-05-18T08:42:00+01:00

The Museum of Liverpool has been awarded a prestigious industry award at the 2012 national Museums + Heritage Awards for Excellence ceremony.

The museum, owned by National Museums Liverpool was announced as the joint winner in the Sustainability category, sponsored by PLB, after being shortlisted from hundreds of entrants from across the UK and Europe.

The £72m Museum of Liverpool, which opened in July 2011, is powered by an eco-friendly energy generation centre that converts renewable biodiesel and natural gas into low-carbon heat, cooling and electricity. It is the largest newly-built national museum in Britain for more than a century, and is one of the ‘greenest’ in the world.

The award was presented by comedienne and broadcaster Sue Perkins at a glittering ceremony on Wednesday (May 16th) at 8 Northumberland in Central London.

Sharon Granville, Executive Director of the Museum of Liverpool project said: “This is such an important award for the Museum of Liverpool, and one which we are very proud to receive. As the largest newly-built national museum in Britain for more than 100 years, we wanted to make sure it is also one of the greenest."

The museum is powered using state-of-the-art renewable and energy-efficient technologies. Its combined heat and power (CHP) system will reduce carbon emissions by 884 tonnes each year - equivalent to the environmental benefit of 88,400 trees. The building also benefits from a rain water harvesting system which supplies ‘grey’ water to the museum’s toilets.

“Prior to opening in July 2011 the building achieved an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate. The Award for Sustainability from Museums & Heritage definitely highlights the Museum of Liverpool as a landmark public project in this sector," she added.

It was a successful night for Liverpool visitor attractions, with The World Museum being Highly Commended in the Classic Award category.

Now celebrating its tenth year, the annual Awards recognise projects of excellence ranging from groundbreaking achievements of national institutions to those crafted with limited resources and budget or those championing sustainability.

The Awards are judged by a panel of the sector’s leading lights including: Diane Lees, Director General, Imperial War Museums; Bernard Donoghue, Director, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) and other leading sector professionals.

Following the Awards ceremony, Sue Perkins said: “I was delighted to host the Museums + Heritage Awards for Excellence again this year. It is wonderful to see that despite the difficult economical climate, our amazing cultural sector remains as diverse and inspiring as ever!”

Blue Peter to Leave BBC1

2012-05-17T09:10:00+01:00

Is the CV still relevant to creative agencies?

2012-05-17T08:54:00+01:00

Over the last few years, like many creative businesses I’m sure, we’ve experienced unprecedented levels of unsolicited CV approaches; both from candidates direct and speculative recruiters. Irrespective of the standard of the actual CV, rarely does this approach make you rethink your business strategy; never have I thought “I’ve got a CV here for an accounts clerk…shall we get one…maybe we should have been sending invoices to clients all this time. Doh.”

In any case, this volume approach - either inside or outside actual recruitment processes - means that CVs have to work harder than ever in order to stand-out & resonate appropriately.

In my experience, CVs act as a very good factual barometer of a candidate’s skills and experience but generally speaking they do very little to capture the defining personality traits and other attributes of the individual which – in my book – is the important stuff. Whether deliberate or not, I see very little synergy between the carefully crafted ‘Summary’ paragraphs and the reality of who’s sitting in front of me at the interview stage. People who describe themselves as ‘excellent communicators’ often turn up and don’t say ‘boo to a goose’. Now, you could argue that you can address this sort of thing when you’re face to face but management time is precious …so why do it then if you can do it sooner?

With all of this in mind, we devised our own little recruitment process. The role was for a digital operations director but with no CV required. We simply invited candidates to list their social media links, giving us permission to ‘snoop’. We also asked candidates to create their own personal brand online via colours, typeface, slogan and brand association. We initially did it as an internal exercise and unanimously identified each and every colleague through this process. Now, if I repeated that, using the paragraph summary from the CVs, I know the results wouldn’t be quite so aligned.

Armed with this information and the social media insights, it felt like we had a fairly firm grip on what these candidates would be like to work with. This approach was perfect for us because it assessed candidates on their own turf and it made them show who they really were. As the successful candidate said to us ‘you don’t do digital, you are digital’. In this case, it was a minimum expectation of ours that our recruit would have to be prolific in the social media space.

The other angle to consider is maximising your own recruitment reach. We generated enough Twitter retweets and positive feedback to ensure the right level of exposure for the role and we even had clients and peers congratulating us on ‘pushing the boundaries’. More importantly than this even, the innovative and stand-out approach on our side attracted a better level of candidate.

So how did it go? Well we found our man – in the guise of Jonathan Ward - fairly quickly, considering the seniority of the role. We also conducted the fewest interviews we’ve ever had to, yet strangely it felt like we’d conducted the most robust process in our history.

And what of recruitment agencies? Traditionally, they would profess to add this little piece of magic to the mix. Although the majority of my experiences have been ‘CV by numbers’, the good ones do take the time to understand the culture of a business, the candidate and find the right chemistry. If this is becoming something easier for us all to identify due to the transparency of social networks (and in Manchester’s case a vibrant ‘real world’ networking scene) then I would argue that it’s a huge challenge for recruiters to overcome as they need to be continually adding value.

I’m sure they will but our conclusion is that we simply no longer require a CV to get the right candidate.

Lowry's Lytham landscape comes back on the market

2012-05-17T08:43:00+01:00

A collectable L.S. Lowry painting of a mystery road in Lytham, the seaside resort where the artist enjoyed childhood holidays, is returning to the market.

‘Regent Road, Lytham St Annes’, painted in 1945, was last on the market in 2007 and is now on sale at his gallery, Clark Art Gallery in Hale, Cheshire for £170,000.

The oil on canvas painting baffled gallery owner, Bill Clark, back in 2007, who was unable to find any records of the existence of a Regent Road in the area.

He appealed to the people of Lytham in the local press, to help identify the scene’s whereabouts and Freckleton man, Harold Cross came forward solving the mystery and identifying the scene as the similarly named Regent Avenue.

Clark, who specialises in the works of Lowry, said: “There’s more to Lowry than mills and matchstick men. We all know he loved Lytham St Annes. It’s long been thought of as one of his favourite places. As a child he would spend Easter there, holidaying with his mother. It’s an area he sketched and painted throughout his life. In fact, it’s a rare Lytham scene; there are no yachts. His Lytham paintings are popular with collectors, especially those who, like Lowry’s mother, favour his non industrial scenes.”

He added: “The art market is buoyant and classic Lowry oils are consistently selling for more than £1 million. I’ve got more than 30 clients all over the world who are serious about growing their Lowry collections – they know it’s a safe haven for their money. I know a lot of investors will have their eyes on this when it goes on sale in our Summer Show at the end of May."

The world record for a Lowry painting of £5,641,250 was equalled twice at Christie’s last year for ‘The Football Match’, a 1949 oil painting and Piccadilly Circus, painted in 1960.

Bill Clark owns galleries in both Hale, Cheshire and Old Bond Street, London (by appointment). Both galleries specialise in works by Modern British Artists, particularly L.S. Lowry.

To find out more about Clark, visit www.clark-art.co.uk.

The Hepworth Wakefield's 1st Birthday and Art Fund Prize Finalist

2012-05-17T08:33:00+01:00

The Hepworth Wakefield has become one of Britain’s most successful art galleries since it opened on 21 May 2011 and is preparing for a bumper birthday celebration this weekend, 19-20 May.

The gallery has recently welcomed its 500,000th visitor (on 12 May, more than a week away from its first birthday) and been announced as one of only four finalists shortlisted to win the coveted £100,000 Art Fund Prize and become ‘museum of the year’.

The Chair of Judges of the Art Fund Prize, Lord Smith of Finsbury, said: “This wonderful new gallery has completely transformed the physical and cultural landscape of Wakefield and the wider region. So much more than just a stunning architectural achievement, the displays of the museum’s permanent collections and the quality of its contemporary art programme are equally commendable. It’s clearly one of the success stories of the museum world in the past twelve months, but whether it can beat off stiff competition from the other three outstanding contenders remains to be seen.”

Simon Wallis, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield said: “We are so delighted to have made it to the shortlist of this prestigious award and we would like to thank our wonderful audience who have supported the gallery and helped us to reach this exciting stage. It’s deeply gratifying to be recognised as one of the UK’s top galleries and museums, and for this to come just as we've achieved 500,000 visitors before our first birthday on 21 May. If you’ve not yet visited The Hepworth Wakefield, now’s the time to come and see this inspiring, free, world-class gallery.”

Cllr Peter Box, Leader of Wakefield Council said: “The Hepworth Wakefield has been a huge hit since it opened. It’s great to see visitors coming for a day out or cultural weekend in Wakefield. We’ve had visitors from as far away as Canada, Japan and Australia. It’s great to see the gallery become such a success and along with Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Henry Moore Institute put Yorkshire on the map as a new world centre for sculpture.”

Far exceeding initial expectations, the gallery has outstripped the first year nationally benchmarked target of 150,000 visitors, welcoming 100,000 within the first five weeks of opening. The Hepworth Wakefield is in the top 3 most visited art galleries outside of London and is the UK’s most successful purpose-built gallery.

The visitors who tipped the museum over the 500,000 mark were Andrew and Nicola Laverick, who visited the gallery on 12 May with their daughter Alice. The family, from Selby in North Yorkshire, received a special goody bag, plus a £50 gift voucher to spend in the gallery’s shop and café bar, and a complimentary family workshop.

Nicola Laverick said: "We’ve had a fantastic day. The Hepworth has been on our to-list for a while, and we’re so glad we made the trip. It’s really family friendly and becoming the 500,000th visitors was such a surprise. We’ll definitely be coming back soon and bringing our friends and family – it’s brilliant!”

The gallery has already provided a huge boost for the local economy. The 500,000 visitors to the gallery so far will have generated an estimated £10m of income for the local economy, with money being spent in local shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, other attractions and hotels.

Visitors to The Hepworth Wakefield can enjoy a range of attractions, including 10 light-filled galleries, learning studios, displays of modern and contemporary art, an auditorium; a shop; café bar with an outdoor terrace; gardens and a riverside children’s play area. Admission to the gallery is free.

Complementing the collection displays, which include works by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, Eduardo Paolozzi and Frank Auerbach, The Hepworth Wakefield presents a programme of contemporary exhibitions. The gallery is currently presenting the work of four British artists – Ben Rivers, David Thorpe & Heather and Ivan Morison. Visitors can also enjoy sculpture in the gallery gardens and the outdoor commission The Black Cloud by Heather and Ivan Morison.

The gallery’s next exhibition will feature Turner Prize 2012 nominee Luke Fowler and seminal British artist Richard Long.

For further details of the gallery, forthcoming exhibitions and events please visit www.hepworthwakefield.org or call 01924 247360.

£150,000 for new ideas to help young people develop their talents and make a living

2012-05-17T08:30:00+01:00

Designers and youth organisations are being invited to join forces to design, build and launch new digital products and services that help young people secure the opportunities they deserve in a new challenge, launched today by Design Council and Nominet Trust.

At a time when youth unemployment is at an all time high, the Working Well Design Challenge will offer three teams £50,000 each to develop an idea that will offer young people new opportunities to participate in society, both economically and socially. The challenge is being funded by Nominet Trust, and the Design Council will provide professional support and publicity to help each team make their ideas a reality.

The challenge organisers want to hear from people with expertise either in design and technology or working with young people. The challenge will foster collaboration between designer groups with digital product and service development expertise and the organisations working directly with young people.

Commenting on the new challenge, Chief Design Officer at the Design Council, Mat Hunter said: “With record numbers of 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training, there is a pressing need to improve how young people secure the opportunities they deserve. Jargon such as ‘NEET’ not only does many a disservice, but presents the situation as a problem of economic policy rather than an opportunity to do something practical to help. We believe well designed digital technology can build upon the skills and abilities of young people and the exceptional work of those already supporting them.”

The submissions will be judged by an advisory board consisting of experts in design, digital technology, business and working with young people.

Annika Small, Chief Executive of Nominet Trust, explained why this challenge is so important: "It's clear that our current systems are no longer sufficient to create the right opportunities for young people. We urgently need fresh thinking and new solutions. In particular, young people need products and services that help them prepare for, find and sustain employment. Digital technology allows us to explore new ways of helping them do just that in more meaningful and relevant ways."

Mat Hunter, Design Council went on to say: “This is an exciting opportunity for designers and youth organisations to work collaboratively on a project that will make such a difference to young people’s lives. The statistics are shocking, but our previous challenges have shown the impact design plays in addressing difficult social and health issues and I think teams will re-engage young people and provide practical help in giving them a proper start in life.”

Working Well follows similar national design challenges run by the Design Council to develop design-led solutions to social and healthcare issues. The Design Council’s Living Well With Dementia challenge recently resulted in five innovative products and services that have been critically acclaimed by dementia specialists and the design community. Other recent examples have addressed reducing violence and aggression in A&E, improving patient privacy and dignity, and reducing health care associated infections in wards.

The Working Well challenge is now open and applications will close on 20 June 2012, with the final three teams to be announced on July 2012.

Architects name the top clients in property

2012-05-17T08:17:00+01:00

The property industry’s top ten clients have been named by the UK’s architecture profession as part of this year’s AJ 100 survey and awards, revealing a shortlist ranging from commercial developers and local government through to infrastructure operators and a retailer.

The inaugural AJ100 “Client of the Year” award shortlist comprises: Argent; Crossrail; Derwent London; Dundee City Council; Land Securities; Ron Dennis of McLaren; Network Rail; Olympic Delivery Authority; The Co-operative Group and The Crown Estate.

Christine Murray, Editor of The Architects’ Journal comments: "We asked the biggest practices in the UK to nominate the clients they believe have made the greatest contribution to architecture.

"It is comforting that architects have given a vote of confidence to the resulting shortlist of developers, some of whom, like the Olympic Delivery Authority, Argent (developer of the King’s Cross masterplan), Crossrail and Network rail, are responsible for massive infrastructure and regeneration projects that will redefine the places in which we live."

"These are the clients that architects would love to work for, because they appreciate the value of good design, and the importance of creating buildings and places that people want to be in."

The Client of the Year Award will be presented on 16th May during the AJ 100 awards dinner in London.

Undertaken by the Architects’ Journal in collaboration with Imperial College London, the annual AJ 100 survey provides a vivid insight into the performance and success of the architectural sector, and its value to the UK economy. The survey is completed by the vast majority of UK practices, who in addition to providing statistics on the number of qualified architects employed also submit information on their commercial performance.

Full details of the AJ 100 rankings are available at www.architectsjournal.co.uk/aj100/.

Digital Entrepreneur Awards are now open

2012-05-17T08:14:00+01:00

The UK's only national awards dedicated to internet entrepreneurialism have opened for nominations and are welcoming submissions from the country’s best and brightest digital businesses.

Now in their seventh year, the Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Awards honour the pioneers of the internet. Searching for steadfast business leaders who spot commercial opportunities and technical geniuses working tirelessly behind the scenes on digital advancement, the awards have paid tribute to many of the industry's elite including high profile business giants Building Blocks, Sainsbury's, FunkyPigeon and Wonga.

Al Mackin, CEO of Trafford Park-based SEO agency, TheEword, who walked away with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2011 said: “2011 was a record year for the Eword with our turnover doubling and a wealth of new clients coming on board. Being named Young Entrepreneur is a fantastic accolade for myself and my great team.”

This year's 12 awards are split into four industry categories: Design and Technology, Sustaining Society, Business Category, and E-Services, and will be judged by a panel of esteemed experts including Dr Chris Smith, founder of The Naked Scientist, Richard Pepper, director at Spilt Ink Studio (Funky Pigeon), Diane Modahl , chief executive at Diane Modahl Sports Foundation and Leanda Falcon, UK digital manager for Kellogg’s.

The DEAs are sponsored by hosting and cloud specialist UKFast – a Manchester firm that has contributed to the online success of many of the UK's most competitive brands for over a decade. UKFast's CEO Lawrence Jones – 2011’s North West Entrepreneur of the Year – also sits on the DEAs judging panel. He says, "It is absolutely crucial to encourage entrepreneurialism online and reward those who are paving the way for a strong digital future."

Winners will be announced on the 16th October in a glittering awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester. Companies can enter the awards for free by visiting the DEA website at: www.digital-entrepreneur.co.uk.

New Director of Scottish National Portrait Gallery announced

2012-05-17T08:10:00+01:00

The Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland has appointed Christopher Baker as the new Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. He will take up his position at the Portrait Gallery on 1 August 2012. His selection followed an international search led by the recruitment company Odgers Berndtson.

Mr Baker has been Deputy Director of the Scottish National Gallery since 2003 and was previously Curator at Christ Church Picture Gallery in Oxford. He enjoys an international reputation as a scholar-curator and has organised some of the Scottish National Gallery’s most successful exhibitions, such as The Discovery of Spain and Turner and Italy (both 2009), and written the Gallery’s permanent collection catalogue of English Drawings and Watercolours 1600-1900 (2011). He sits on advisory boards at the University of St Andrews and the National Gallery, London, and has contributed to numerous art historical publications, including The Burlington Magazine.

John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland said: “This vacancy was hotly contested by a strong field of candidates from this country and from abroad. Christopher Baker has an extremely impressive record as a curator and a manager who has combined scholarly depth with a broad popular appeal in his work for the Galleries. We are delighted that he has emerged as the outstanding leader to build on the recent successes of the newly-re-opened Portrait Gallery.”

Ben Thomson, Chairman of the Trustees of NGS said: “It is a hard act for anyone to follow James Holloway who transformed the Portrait Gallery and made it into one of Scotland’s best-loved cultural institutions. The Board is confident that Christopher will be an inspiring new leader for the Gallery who with freshness and vigour will be able to build on our aspirations for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to be at the centre of Scotland’s heritage.”

In his current position, Mr Baker works with colleagues across the NGS on many aspects of the management of the National Gallery and the care and presentation of its outstanding collection and the buildings that house it. He has had specific responsibility for the Gallery’s Drawings and Print Collection and the promotion of it through research and displays.

Commenting on his new position, Christopher Baker said: “The Scottish National Portrait Gallery has been brilliantly re-developed and it is a privilege to be given the opportunity to work with a much-admired national institution and such an outstanding and wide-ranging collection on the next stage of its development.”

Interview: Katy Leicester, Handpickedvintage.com

2012-05-16T14:24:00+01:00

Katy Leicester is the person behind Handpickedvintage.com, an affordable vintage clothing website, for men and women and based in the UK.

It was dreamt up after Katy worked in all areas of fashion, costumes and textiles and spent a lifetime collecting and obsessing over vintage clothing, fabric and embroidery.

She was brought up going to jumble sales, charity shops, markets and car boot sales in the UK and abroad. From this weekend pastime, a hobby developed, which has become a way of life.

With her degree in Textiles from Nottingham Trent University and having worked for many major fashion retailers, in theatre, print and costume design, she is also a dab hand with a needle and thread herself.

Katy loves nothing more than a good old fancy dress party, dancing in a field with friends to an eclectic mix of music and that feeling of finding that next Handpicked Vintage treasure. We spent five minutes chatting to Katy about her interesting business...

Tell us a bit more about yourself

My name is Katy Leicester and I can hand on heart say I could talk about, look at and admire vintage clothes, and people wearing them all day! I just love that feeling of when a customer looks and feels amazing in a garment that I have found for them.

How did you get into your creative field?

I have always been very creative and I couldn’t imagine working in any other sector – working in an office just doesn’t appeal!

Who, where or what did you learn the most from during your career?

I have had a few key jobs over the years that looking back now are really relevant in how I run my business. I worked as a sales assistant in a clothes shop where I learnt everything customer service related like what a customer actually wants and expects from a brand. I worked in a technical department of a fashion knitwear supplier, so I learnt that having an eye for detail and understanding body shape was essential.

My last job before starting my business was working for Madame Tussauds in the wardrobe department. Part of my job was to dress and style the figures but also to source everything and anything to do with a figures outfit, so at times you really to be quite inventive in where you source things from, much like how I source the stock for the website.

Are there any moments of your career you’re especially proud of?

It was quite a liberating moment when I made the decision to start my own business. I had struggled for a few years in finding a stable job in the area that I wanted to work in and had suffered a few knock backs but I was so adamant that I wanted to do something creative and what I was passionate about. So when I had made my mind up it was a huge relief that I could put all my energy into the business and take control of what I was doing.

So what’s next in the pipeline for you?

I have some really exciting photo shoots with some great companies that I’m currently preparing for – sourcing clothes and props that I will use for styling which is a part of my job I absolutely love.

Who or what inspires you?

My friends and family inspire me most. As my great grandparents, grandparents, other family members and close friends have all successfully set up their own business’ out of nothing so whenever I think I might not be able to do something, a determination kicks in and I think – if they can do it, so can I!

When you’re not working, what are you up to?

As collecting and sourcing vintage clothes and generally anything that I find in charity shops, car boots and garage sales has always been a hobby of mine, you could say that I never stop working. But it never feels like work so in that respect I’m fortunate that I have created a job for myself where I get to do what I enjoy every day and I don’t mind working 7 days a week!

Finally, what advice would you give to others just starting out in your creative field?

For me I never stop talking to people about what they are doing, I always make a point of asking new people that I meet what career they have. Firstly because I am interested (and I’m quite nosey) but secondly you just never know what connections they have. I stand by the rule that sometimes it’s not what you know it’s who you know.

BIID looks forward to Celebrating British Design

2012-05-16T14:19:00+01:00

The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) has confirmed the full programme of high profile speakers for its exciting one day conference event, entitled “Celebrating British Design” (To be held at RIBA 66 Portland Place, London Thursday 21st June 2012).

In exploring the global impact of British design success, “Celebrating British Design” will feature fashion designer Sir Paul Smith in conversation with journalist Rosie Millard, and contributions from Deyan Sudjic, Design Director of the Design Museum, Katy Lithgow, Head Conservator at the National Trust and Glenn Adamson, Head of Research at the V&A.

“The eyes of the world will be firmly focused on Britain in 2012 thanks to the Olympics, Paralympics and the Golden Jubilee,” says BIID President, Diana Yakeley. “In this year of celebration, the BIID believes it is entirely appropriate that we honour this country’s excellence in the field of design. “Celebrating British Design” will provide us with just that platform and recognise the varied and enduring contribution to the spatial designs that we create for our clients in residential, commercial, public and hospitality projects.”

In conversation with Rosie Millard, Sir Paul Smith, one of the world’s most successful and important fashion designers, will take a look back at his career as a British design icon. Sir Paul will share his insights with the audience on the role and influence of design in UK culture and interiors.

Katy Lithgow will be exploring how the conservation of historic buildings and their interiors has enriched cultural influences on which modern designers can draw. She will take the audience on a historical journey into the past of interiors, discussing its ability to show constant reinvention of the even more ancient past, before concluding with a sustainable future.

Glenn Adamson is Head of Research at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), where he leads the Research Department’s activities, working within the museum and in collaboration with scholars and institutions worldwide. Glenn, a captivating speaker, will be discussing modern British design, especially in connection with recent landmark V&A exhibitions.

Closing the event is Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum and prolific author of design related books. Deyan became Director in 2006, whose stimulating and varied exhibition programme has placed design at the forefront of the cultural and learning agenda. In 2014 the Design Museum will relocate to new premises at the former Commonwealth Institute in West London. This new Design Museum, with interiors designed by John Pawson, will be three times the size of its current home and will create a showcase for its world-class collection, and greatly expand its education and public events programme.

Another conference highlight will be a special panel session, ‘What makes British design worth celebrating?’ Chairing the discussion will be Paul Finch OBE, Deputy Chair, Design Council. Joining Paul for the panel will be; Dr Paul Thompson, Rector of the Royal College of Art, Sue Timney, Designer and Vice President of the BIID, and Christine Losecaat, Creative Industries Adviser to UK Trade & Investment.

The BIID 2012 Honorary Fellowships, recognising outstanding contributions to the industry, will be presented at the conference to; Sir Paul Smith, the iconic fashion designer, Dr Paul Thompson, Rector of the Royal College of Art, Andreas von Einsiedel, the renowned interiors and lifestyle photographer, and Graham Watts OBE, Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Council, of which BIID are full members.

Tickets for are selling fast for the event. They can now be purchased online at www.biid.org/celebrating where members and non-members can find out more about the event. Tickets for BIID Members cost £110, BIID Student Members: £60 and Non-members: £140. Join the conversation on twitter for up-to-date news @BIIDtalk and follow the conversation with #CBDconference.