MEET SOME OF OUR JUDGES
We are thrilled to announce our judging panel, a diverse collection of contemporary artists, creatives, writers and poets who will be lending their professional expertise to select our competition winners.
Chris Taylor
Music Promoter
Shrewsbury native and founder of SY.Gigs, Chris Taylor has evolved his ‘not-for-profit’ alternative music project, turning it into a highly respected and appreciated venture that continues to attract a stellar list of international artists.
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After a 40-year career in local government, Chris promoted music and performance events in Shrewsbury for eight years before 'kick-starting’ his real passion, the curation of a distinctive alternative music programme in the heart of his hometown's historic churches.
Emma Bacon
Writer
Emma Bacon is a Freelance Columnist and Features writer for The Metro, Shropshire Star, The Shrewsbury Magazine and Writing Lead for the Belle Vue Arts Festival Team.
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She was narrative non-fiction writer and finalist for 2024 “Motherhood Uncensored” writing competition judged by Lucy Jones – Women's Prize for Non-Fiction author and semi Finalist for Brit Writer of the Year 2010.
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Emma has also published a small collection of poetry with ‘Reach Poetry’/ ‘Indigo Press’ and Glasgow’s City of Poets Anthology and Semi Finalist for Small Collection of Poetry in ‘Art of Love Festival,’ both published and unpublished within The Oxo Tower Gallery chosen by Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.
Mary Elliott
Artist
I completed a BAHons Fine Art, Bristol Polytechnic in 1976, and had some notable tutors: Paul Feiler, Michael Canney, Alf Stockham, David Inshaw and visiting tutors William Scott and Patrick Heron. As students we would stay in Pendeen, near St Ives, and visit Patrick Heron in his studio: the influence of the Cornish artists was significant at the art college. In contrast, Alf Stockham and David Inshaw introduced more figurative and narrative work. Years later, with Twenty Twenty Gallery, I reconnected with Alf Stockham and David Inshaw, visiting their studios and enjoying their exhibitions with us in the gallery.
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For me the landscape and the presence of humans are inseparable, there is a constant connection through buildings, boundaries, field names, footpaths and tracks, the marks made on the land.
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My work here is a starting point, capturing the essence and feeling of the landscape around me, aware of the past and the current changes.
Dr. Rhiannon Hooson
Poet
Dr. Rhiannon Hooson is a Welsh poet, author, and editor. She has won major awards for her work, including an Eric Gregory award from the Society of Authors, and her first book, The Other City, was a finalist for the Wales Book of the Year award. She has performed at literature festivals across the UK and in Europe, and her work has been featured in the Guardian, Magma, and Poetry Wales among others.
In the last few years, she has been writer in residence at the Hay Festival, winner of the First Chapter Award, and the judge of the PENfro festival poetry competition. Her latest book, Goliat, was recently published by Seren Books.