SCAF Emerging Artists 2022 Exhibition Catalogue

2022 AWARD 

EXHIBITION CATALOGUE 

Exploring the 

Subject of Synergy 

Emerging Artist 2022 Award

Scott Creative Arts Foundation

2022 AWARD 

EXHIBITION CATALOGUE 

Exploring the 

Subject of Synergy

Introduction 

The SCAF Emerging Artist Award was 

created to encourage and support up 

and coming artists who are living in the 

Yorkshire region. 

The intent of the award is to bring 

recognition and awareness to outstanding 

visual artists in the region who are at the 

early stages of their career and who have not 

yet established a reputation as an artist 

amongst art curators, buyers, critics and the 

general public. 

The creation of the award was one of the 

most emphatic wishes of the Foundations 

benefactors, Michael and Eileen Scott, and 

we are delighted to exhibit the submissions 

from our 2022 finalists. 


Synergy 

For this year's award the subject for the 

submitted pieces and our current exhibition is 

This subject idea was born out of the best 

rather than the worst of the pandemic years, 

as in that period of stark contrasts, the very 

best came about through the cooperation and 

interaction of people, science, innovation and 

creativity. 

At another level we were given deeper 

insights into many of the synergistic 

relationships in nature e.g. the interaction and 

interdependency between fungi and trees. 

Synergy is an interaction or cooperation giving 

rise to a whole that is greater than the simple 

sum of its parts and this years shortlisted 

artists submitted proposals depicting their 

interpretation of this subject 

Congratulations from all at SCAF to our 

talented finalists. 

The 2022 Emerging Artists Finalists 

Teddi Coutts 

Barbara Hellowell 

Russell Hughes 

Jane Claire Wilson 


Judging Panel 

Dr Sue Armstrong 

Artistic Director & Trustee of SCAF 

Sue Armstrong is the Founder of the Scott Creative Arts 

Foundation and the current Artistic Director. Sue was a close 

friend of Michael and Eileen Scott and is dedicated to realising 

their wishes through the work of the Foundation. Providing 

support and encouragement to emerging artists was a major 

priority for the Scott’s and Sue is delighted to see the SCAF 

Award come to fruition. Sue Armstrong is the Founder of the 

Scott Creative Arts Foundation and the current Artistic Director. 

Jane Young 

Curator of SCAF 

Jane has had the privilege to be a part of SCAF as the Gallery 

Curator since 2016, having met Michael Scott on a couple of 

occasions he gave her the inspiration and energy to work with 

the SCAF team to help create a Foundation that she hopes 

both he and Eileen would be proud of. Jane has a longterm 

passion for arts, wellbeing and through this connection 

continues to find ways to encourage and promote art and 

artists in the creative process. 


Jill Tattersall 

Mixed Media Artist, York 

Three years ago Jill and her studio, The Wolf at the Door, 

moved from Brighton to York. She hasn’t stopped making art 

since childhood, but originally earned her living as an academic 

specialising in medieval French literature with a particular 

interest in old maps and travel accounts. Later she took 

courses in art, design and ceramics at her local college; 

her first solo exhibition soon followed. 

Sophie Simpson 

Winner of the Scott Creative Arts Foundation Emerging Artist Award 2020/21 

Sophie was born and raised in North Yorkshire and lives in the 

town of Harrogate where she currently works from her home 

studio. She takes inspiration from the colour of the sea and finds 

its many shades and variants tools for tranquillity and calming 

the mind. 


TEDDI COUTTS 

Leeds-based artist and printmaker 

Teddi had always expected that retirement would be the time 

when she could concentrate on, and develop her artwork, but 

retirement was always something that would happen in the 

future and she hadn’t thought through how it might work out 

in practice or made any plans other than laying in stocks of 

materials whenever funds permitted. 

She had experimented with various media after leaving 

college, but only as an occasional hobby – trying sketching, 

watercolour painting, photography, pastels and acrylic. Teddi 

visited exhibitions, studied artists and their work and built up a 

collection of art books to teach myself as much as she could. 

She is lucky to live in a city with a large art gallery which has a 

dedicated art library. The Tetley, the Henry Moore centre, the 

Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth are quite close. 

An Arts Hostel is due to open soon. 

Teddi uses a range of printing techniques, including monoprint, 

drypoint, relief printing and collagraph and also experiment with 

digital photography, collage and painting. Although printmaking 

is Teddi's first love, She now works mostly in mixed media which 

offers endless opportunities to experiment with combinations 

of all the disciplines she has learnt. Her use of mixed media 

increased during lockdown as she worked with whatever 

materials she had available. 

www.instagram.com/Teddico4 


Fateful Encounter 

Mixed Media 

39cm x 29cm 

Emerging Artist 2022 Award 

www.scafemergingartist.co.uk

Fateful Encounter 

The word ‘synergy’ comes from the Greek, meaning ‘working 

together’ and was first used in 1647. 

It is used more generally to refer to ‘the whole being greater 

than the sum of its parts’ 

In the 1990s, it was a management buzzword, popularised by 

Steven Covey in ‘The 7 habits of highly effective people’ and 

used to justify downsizing in business [and local government] by 

doing more with less: a mutually advantageous conjunction or 

compatibility of distinct business participants or elements such 

as resources or efforts. 

Whilst researching the subject, she came across examples in 

other fields: 

• the interaction or cooperation of two or more organisations, 

substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect 

greater than the sum of their separate effects. 

• medicines and medical treatments that co-operate with 

bodily functions or organs to improve health and mental 

facilities [1847]. 

• the human will, working together with Divine Grace in the 

work of regeneration. 

• a greater effect obtained by combining two or more 

organisms or components together to produce a result 

equally beneficial to all. 

www.instagram.com/Teddico4 


Considering the ways in which these concepts might be 

portrayed creatively as attractive artworks, she came across 

‘the Fateful Encounter hypothesis. This argues that around two 

billion years ago a unique event caused a symbiotic relationship 

so favourable, that the whole of our known kingdoms of life 

could have resulted from it. The hypothesis was used to refer 

to a chance event that might have led to the ‘start of evolution’: 

the synergy of two single cells coming together by chance. 

They merged, and instead of dying, formed a kind of hybrid cell, 

which survived and proliferated. In technical terms, a single 

mitochondrion was taken up by a single ancient bacterial cell 

that then divided to give each daughter cell a mitochondrion 

of its own. 

“All sophisticated life on the planet Earth may owe its existence 

to one freakish event.” 

If this hypothesis is true, and there are those who doubt it, then 

all eukaryotes—every flower and fungus, spider and sparrow, 

man and woman—descended from a sudden and breathtakingly 

improbable synergy between two microbes. 

She found various scientific reports on this theory, and many 

illustrations showing how the event could have happened. 

Whilst not fully understanding the scientific arguments relating 

to the hypothesis, there were some fascinating diagrams and 

photographs. These provided the inspiration for my submission 

- Teddi wanted to portray [even if the hypothesis was not 

eventually accepted by the scientific world] the potential beauty 

and drama of the event. 



BARBARA HELLOWELL 

Huddersfield-based artist and wire Sculptor 

In 2019 the Lawrence Batley Theatre Huddersfield opened a 

new gallery publicised in the local and national press. Barbara is 

an Artist in Residence at the theatre and my studio/workshop is 

an integral part of the gallery and her work is always on display 

in her studio. 

Barbara has had a lifelong interest in Art and while bringing up 

three children attended various Art classes. She finally realised 

after taking an Access Course at Huddersfield Art and Design 

College in 2003 that even at her time of life (now with family 

grown up) that she had the opportunity to start learning to be 

an Artist. 

The Access Course which included Art History, Painting, 

Drawing, Printing, Sculpture and Ceramics gave her a rounded 

knowledge of the different Art mediums and grew her 

knowledge enough to take a art foundation course the following 

year. Much to her surprise and delight, a year later she found 

herself enjoying a Contemporary Art Practice degree at Leeds 

University. She qualified in July 2007 with a BA(Hons) 1st class 

degree. 

By now Sculpture had become the Art medium for her. 

Her final exhibition at the University was all sculpture based 

on the presence left behind when people are no longer there. 

Obtaining a first gave Barbara the confidence to move on 

with her chosen medium. 

www.barbarahellowell.co.uk 


The Biome 

Wire Sculpture 

25 x 20cm 



The Biome 

The microbiome, sometimes know as the gut flora is where the 

trillions of microbes, composed of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and 

viruses live inside and on the human body. It’s unique to each 

person and its function is to protect the body from invaders and 

to regulate our immune systems. 

The microbiome works in harmony with various organs in the 

body and aids in the proper functioning of a human being. It 

helps mental health, promotes skin health, helps digest food and 

protects against toxins. It also boosts the immune system. 

Although knowledge of this invisible organ was expanded only 

recently in 2007 with the launch of The Human Microbiome 

Project, the unravelling of its functions, coupled with the 

understanding of its origins, could lead to major changes in 

health care, health education, nutrition and personal traits. 

This is an on-going project. 

Probiotics 

Probotics are helpful bacteria that live in the intestines. They 

balance and boost the immune system. 

Prebiotics 

Prebiotics function as a food source for your gut’s 

microorganisms and they need to bypass digestion and make it 

all the way to your colon. There, the microorganisms metabolize 

and ferment the prebiotics to survive. This metabolism and 

fermentation process is beneficial to your gut health because it 

creates a variety of other byproducts that help you in a number 

of ways. 

When prebiotics are broken down by the microorganisms in your 

gut, different short-chain fatty acids are created depending on 

the kind of prebiotic. As a result, these shortchain fatty acids do 

a number of things like provide energy to your colon cells, help 

with mucus production and aid in inflammation and immunity. 

www.barbarahellowell.co.uk 


The synergy between probiotics and prebiotics is essential for 

good health 

My work ‘The Biome’ shows this relationship in the interwoven 

intestines that make up the gut. The home of the trillions 

of organisms, working away to form the microbiome. The 

appearance of the intestines is a twisting mass of coils. If 

stretched out it would cover 20 – 25 feet. 

The work is created using fine wire, mostly 0.5mm coloured 

aluminium wire. Aluminium wire is used because of its 

malleability and bends following the twist and turns of the 

intestines. The coils are created starting with a length of wire, 

and forming a long wire tube (possibly up to 20 feet long) by 

twisting, looping and knotting the wire, creating my own material 

that represents the trillions of organisms that live in the gut. 

The sections of the tube are coloured to identify and follow the 

different coils. The coloured wire differentiates between the 

coils and their travels. 

The work is a freestanding 3D sculpture. 

Summary 

The synergy between probiotics and prebiotics in the 

microbiome promotes a healthy gut and balances the 

microbiome. Probiotics are the healthy bacteria in the gut and 

prebiotics are the materials that boost probiotic productivity and 

benefits.They synergise to boost the immune system, increase 

energy, encourage restful sleep and promote brain health. 



RUSSELL HUGHES 

York-based artist and printmaker 

Russell is inspired by the characteristics of public and private 

spaces in which we live our lives, particularly when considered 

in the context of social and political issues. 

His practice is analytical in nature, often involving creating 

data to record experiences, for example by GPS recording of 

movement or by measurement of surfaces and objects. 

Printmaking is his primary media for exploring and developing 

colour, shape and pattern generated from data and research. 

Russell’s printmaking practice includes collagraphs, monoprints 

and screenprints. 

His work appears abstract but contains visual references to the 

subject matter. 

Russell left his previous career in 2015 to study the Access Art 

course at York College followed by an MA in Creative Practice at 

Leeds Arts University. 

Russell has exhibited in group shows, print fairs and galleries. 

In 2021 he was commissioned to produce artwork for the NHS 

facility within York Community Stadium. He is a member of 

York Printmakers. 

www.russellhughesart.co.uk 


Lost Synergy 

Mixed Media 

(Monoprint, 

Collagraph, 

Drawing, Acrylic 

Medium) 

100 x 73cm 



Lost Synergy 

The work questions the loss of synergy experienced when 

co-operation between nation states is disrupted. 

Such co-operation takes many forms – the work specifically 

considers co-operation to improve mutual safety and 

security given the international nature of terrorist and criminal 

organisations. 

Prior to leaving the European Union, UK authorities made 

extensive use of the Schengen II (SIS II) database, which 

provides a mechanism for member states to share and act on 

real-time data on persons and objects of interest. Sharing such 

data appears a good example of co-operation for overall mutual 

benefit (i.e. synergy). 

The UK is no longer entitled to use SIS II, with a proposed 

alternative solution considered by a House of Lords committee 

to be less satisfactory. Co-operation has been disrupted, 

synergies are likely to have been lost, the consequences for our 

security are unknown. Public consideration of such matters has 

been missed or avoided. 

This political process is directly reflected in the development of 

the ‘Lost Synergy’ work, with layers within the work representing 

stages of Data creation, Connection and Co-operation, 

Disruption, Obscuration and Distraction. 

Data. 

To represent SIS II data, a set of imagery was created alluding 

to identification and tracking of persons and objects, data entry, 

and database processes and alerts, representing the building 

blocks of co-operation and synergy. Some of the imagery 

has been left recognisable, some abstracted. The underlying 

layers of the work have been created from this imagery by 

monoprinting, collagraphs and image transfer. 

www.russellhughesart.co.uk 


Connection and Co-operation. 

Elements of the data set have been grouped and connected, 

emphasised by drawing boxes and lines, to form new shapes 

and patterns. This represents the sharing of data, co-operation 

for mutual benefit, and achievement of synergy. 

Disruption. 

The printing surface has been torn into two pieces and the 

right-hand side offset. A dark printed line along the torn edges 

emphasises disruption. Horizontal lines drawn between data 

elements no longer connect. Co-operation has been disrupted 

and synergy has been lost. 

Obscuration. 

Images have been partially erased and masked in the printing 

and transfer process, a reference to lost data and lost 

opportunities as well as lack of public information about these 

matters. 

Distraction. 

A final layer of monoprinted colour and shape references flags 

as symbols of nationalism and distracts the viewer’s attention 

from the detail in the underlying layers. Much like meaningless 

populist slogans distract attention from detail and fact. 



JANE CLAIRE WILSON 

Thirsk-based textile artist 

Jane's background is in Early Years Education as a Teacher and 

Advisor. Throughout this career she actively promoted creativity 

in the classroom and ran after school art clubs and activities. 

She has always attended community based evening classes and 

workshops in order to learn new skills and often shared her own 

skills with youth groups 

In 2015 Jane attended an Access to Art and Design Course at 

York College where she was introduced to a wide range of 

media as well the processes of research and experimentation 

in order to create a final piece of art. She realised that my life 

long interest in creating textile based work was a contemporary 

art form she could explore further. The positive experience also 

provided her with the confidence to change careers. She began 

to teach more art groups, for example devising and facilitating 

a year long programme of art workshops for children with 

disabilities. 

By 2018 Jane realised that she was keen to develop her artistic 

practice further and enrolled for an MA in Creative Practice at 

Leeds Arts University where she researched how creating a 

sense of place in a creative practice engages audiences and 

makers in social, political and global discussions. 

www.facebook.com/janeclairewilsonartist 


Refugees: Working Together 

To Create A Sense Of Place 

Textile Sculpture 

50cm diameter 



Refugees: Working Together To Create A Sense Of Place 

Jane's artwork is inspired by a recent story from a Palestinian 

refugee camp: 

A group of women came together to sew and began to share 

unique embroidery stitches from their own villages. Together 

they created a new embroidery pattern encompassing all of 

these stitches, representing their combined knowledge, skills 

and heritage. The resulting textile piece shared their new found 

sense of place and belonging. 

The abstract textile sculpture visualises the idea of individuals 

coming together with their own set of skills and mind set and 

through the process of working together create their own sense 

of place. 

Through her work she shares the stories of refugees as they 

arrive and settle into new countries. It tells the stories of 

interactions between new immigrants and local people as they 

meet, adjust and learn to live and work with each other. 

The process of making reflects and is a metaphor for the 

process of immigration. Jane brings together individual threads 

and fabrics and explores how they join together; how they react 

to each other and demonstrating what happens as they combine 

to create something new. 

'I hope that my artwork will visualise how refugees bring new 

and positive contributions which interact with local traditions to 

create a multicultural inclusive society. My sculpture is made of 

individual pieces that visualise the idea of the sum being greater 

than its individual parts.' 

www.facebook.com/janeclairewilsonartist 


Her final piece evolved as she experimented with joining 

together threads and fabrics using a wide range of processes 

and materials. These processes included painting, hand 

embroidery, wrapping, freehand machine embroidery and 

distressing with a heat gun. The materials I have incorporated 

include wire, threads, wool tops, lutrador, tyvek, bondaweb, 

kunin felt (made from recycled plastic bottles), water soluble 

fabric and vylene. 

The overall form is spherical with a small sphere of threads in 

the centre. Emerging from the centre are layers of individual 

circle of fabrics and threads attached to wrapped wire stems. 

As the threads and fabrics are joined together their density, 

intensity and complexity increase resulting in a large sphere. 

The individual pieces can now be seen as a solid entity. The 

spherical form is suspended from the ceiling. This hints at the 

form of the earth and the global story of immigration. 

This project has enabled her to develop her creative practice 

as she consolidates her theoretical understanding of a sense 

of place and adapts her work to a more global context. The 

project has challenged Jane on a technical level as she has 

brought together two techniques that she has been working 

on separately; creating abstract textile sculptures and creating 

2D experimental textile pieces. It combines the solid form and 

blocks of colour of her sculptures with the more delicate and 

intricate lines and patterns of freehand machine embroidery to 

create a unique response to the theme of synergy. 



2023 AWARD 

/ THE SUBJECT IS 

The theme for the SCAF Emerging Artist Award 2023 is LIGHT. 

As we emerge from the Covid pandemic, surrounded by the rhetoric of threatened climate 

crisis, food shortages, rising prices and ever increasing social pressures, it is hard to feel 

lightness of spirit or connect with joy and creativity in our lives . Exploring the theme of 

light and finding your own way of interpreting and expressing 'light' will offer a healthy 

counterbalance to the heaviness and darkness often experienced in these times. 

The visual arts have a long history of using light both as a subject and a tool to create 

emotion and drama, or simply to lead the eye to a specific aspect of composition. You may 

choose to represent light within your work, or play with light illuminating your piece or even 

work with light itself, the choice is yours. 

The award is open to up-and-coming artists in the Yorkshire Region who are not 

represented by an agent and are not yet recognised by art critics or the general public. 

There is a £1250 cash award to the winning submission and a further 9 awards of £100 for 

the nine runners up. The 10 final pieces will be exhibited in our SCAF EAA 2023 Exhibition. 

Please visit our website for further details: www.scafemergingartist.co.uk 

www.scafemergingartist.co.uk 


2022 

Teddi Coutts 

Barbara Hellowell 

Russell Hughes 

Jane Claire Wilson

SCAF Emerging Artists 2022 Exhibition Catalogue

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