York St John Art students triumph in international art competition celebrating disability

Four Fine Art students from York St John University have secured the top awards in the Eleanor Worthington International Art Prize, a competition open to higher education Art and Media students from the UK, Ireland and Italy. 

The Eleanor Worthington Prize celebrates students who work in the visual arts on the theme of disability. Founded by the Associazione Premio Eleanor Worthington, based in Urbino, Italy, the competition commemorates Eleanor Worthington (1982 to 2008), a disabled woman who tragically died aged only 26. Eleanor was born in York and lived there before spending many artistic years at the Istituto Statale d’Arte in Italy. 

Matthew Hammond, a second year Fine Art student, won first prize for his artwork “Fragile Mind”, which exhibits both mainstream aspects of disability, physical and mental disability, and comments on who can view art. Commenting on his win Matthew said: 

"I'm delighted to have even been put forward for a prize, let alone win, it's been an amazing opportunity that has allowed my view of my practice to develop acutely.” 

Second year Fine Art student, Nyimbwa Clyde was awarded the special Mark Bailey first prize for his artwork titled “Peripheral neuropathy”. The piece is about his father’s disability in his life after chemotherapy and raises awareness of what peripheral neuropathy feels like. Nyimbwa said:  

“I'm so grateful to have been chosen for the special first prize. And I'm really excited for the trip to Italy.” 

Second prize went to Ami Taylor for her piece “Breathe”, a paper concertina piece representing the respiratory disease COPD. She was delighted to have been able to bring awareness to this sort of disability. Charlie Swan-Woods received joint third prize for his piece “Holding herself Together”, a poignant series of photography showing a balloon figure deflating. The piece considers fibromyalgia and the continuous effort to manage a chronic condition. 

Helen Turner, Associate Head of Art at York St John University, said: 

“Given the current climate it’s hugely topical to bring our focus to the lives of disabled people. This prize gives students a chance to research any aspect of disability whether their own lived experience or that of others. It will be the first time that some of them will have considered how their own creativity might be engaged in raising awareness or aiding advocacy for others.   

“I hope this exhibition gives us a chance to pause and consider our own situation, whether that is one of privilege or struggle, and that we might be moved to consider the ways we can advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.” 

All work by York St John University winners, along with other competition entrants, will be on display in York St John University’s Creative Centre from Friday 21 March to Wednesday 2 April 2025. 

More information about the exhibition can be found on the event webpage. 

Picture shows: Eleanor Worthington prize winners with York St John University staff (left to right), Associate Head of Art Helen Turner, prize winners Ami Taylor, Nyimbwa Clyde, Matthew Hammond, Charlie Swan-Woods, and Senior Lecturer in Art Dr Charlotte Cullen (photo credit: Kyveli Lignou-Tsamantani)