Former Ipswich School pupil scoops prestigious art prize

A former Ipswich School pupil is one of only three students nationally to be awarded a prize as part of this year’s RBA Rising Stars exhibition.

Sophie Cleave, who left the school last summer after finishing her A Levels, was awarded The Surgeon’s Prize for her acrylic and oil painting titled Blurred Reality.

200 students were nominated for the Rising Stars exhibition by arts societies across the country, with 20 pieces of artwork chosen from these by the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) to be displayed in the Mall Galleries in London this March. The exhibition forms part of the larger RBA Bicentennial Exhibition, which contains a total of 200 artworks which were picked from 4000 entries. Sophie was one of three Rising Star student prize winners within the total of 15 prizes awarded.

Sophie is now doing an Art Foundation course at Camberwell UAL, where she specialises in fine art painting. She said: “When I heard about being awarded The Surgeon’s Prize I was extremely shocked and couldn't quite believe it at first. I didn't even realise I could win a prize so I was thrilled to be chosen. My artwork was inspired by Tim Avery and James Bonnici. It was an A Level sample piece about social isolation due to social media, and portrayed feeling excluded from friends.”

A second Ipswich School student, Willow McIntyre, also had an artwork selected for the Rising Stars exhibition - a photographic piece of stroboscopic images called Metamorphosis which was inspired by the book of the same name by Franz Kafka.

Richard Parkin, Director of Art at Ipswich School, said: “It’s very unusual to be selected to be part of this exhibition, but to have artwork from two students on display and a prize awarded as well, is truly exceptional. Both students were very creative with their approach, and Sophie’s observational drawing and painting skills really shine when you see them at the Mall Galleries.”

Nicholas Weaver, Ipswich School Headmaster, added: “It is fantastic to see Sophie following her passions and being rewarded for her hard work in this way, and it is a real tribute to the work of our wonderful Art Department. Sophie’s success will be a great inspiration for our current pupils - what an achievement!”