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Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize

Congratulations to our alumni student, Freya, who was selected for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, the UK's most important prize for contemporary drawing! Out of 3,300 entries from 1,673 artists and makers, 101 drawings by 89 creatives were selected for the 2021 exhibition.

The selected drawings will be on display at the Trinity Buoy Wharf exhibition, open to the public from November 18 - December 5 in London. 

The works in the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize exhibition reflect a broad scope of contemporary drawing practice by artists at all stages of their careers – living and working across the four nations of the UK as well as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, and the USA.

The artworks span across all subjects, styles and techniques – including pencil, charcoal, pen, pastel, collage and thread. Some are so realistic that they will make viewers question whether they are actually drawings. Others display innovative processes: portraits drawn through touching the sitter rather than looking at them, images created while the artist’s hands were tied together, works made with frozen ink left to melt on paper, and so much more.

The shortlist gives us a glimpse into 90 artists’ preoccupations throughout 2021, from telling the story of the greatest Black Britons, to advocating for biodiversity, raising awareness around climate change, and advocating for feminist causes.

In a year where it has been more difficult to go out, many drawings invite us to look within, to slow down, take notice, record the everyday, and find little patches of beauty wherever we can.

Reflecting upon an uncertain time, an unclear future, and a brightening mood all at once – many shortlisted artists celebrate drawing as a form of "therapy".

Freya studied our Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design and progressed on to study BA Graphic Design at Loughborough University.