Swansea College of Art Lecturer Holly Slingsby Awarded Bryan Robertson Trust Award

Visual artist and lecturer Holly Slingsby has been awarded the prestigious Bryan Robertson Trust Award, recognising her significant contribution to contemporary visual arts practice and research.

Established on the instructions of the late Bryan Robertson, director of the Whitechapel Gallery from 1962–69, broadcaster, critic, curator and champion of the visual arts and contemporary dance, the award supports artists undertaking ambitious new work.

The selection panel comprised Trustees Stephen Chambers RA and Alison Wilding OBE RA, alongside advisory panel members Simon Groom, Ed Hubbard, Tim Marlow OBE, Professor Roderick Mengham and Ashley Page OBE.

Speaking about the award, Holly said: “With the support of the award I plan to embark on a new body of research and artwork based on medieval Shrine Madonnas. These are a rare type of devotional object which consists of a small carved figure who can be opened out to reveal painted or sculpted scenes hidden within her body. I am excited by the potential of making life-sized versions of these as costumes for performance and/or wearable projection spaces for video footage.”

Holly is a visual artist working across performance, video, and painting. Her practice explores systems of belief, representations of women, and iconographic traditions, drawing on biblical imagery, mythology, and contemporary culture.

She studied at the Ruskin School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art, and has exhibited, screened, and performed work nationally and internationally at venues including Tate St Ives, Turner Contemporary, ICA, Barbican Centre, Matt’s Gallery, and Modern Art Oxford.

Currently a Lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Swansea College of Art, Holly is also an active member of SCAR (Swansea College of Art Research), presenting work through conferences and exhibitions. Her work has previously received support from Arts Council Wales and Arts Council England, alongside multiple awards from a-n The Artists Information Company.

In 2023, she was joint winner of the Exeter Contemporary Open.

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