Jonathan Hughs studies the subject at the university and was this week named as the winner of the 2025 Storrar Cowdry prize for Fine Arts.
The competition is named for the Chester-based solicitors.
Dr Jeremy Turner, leader and senior lecturer at The University of Chester, said that the standard of his work in the final year of his degree set the platform for the award.
He added that the prize awarded to Jonathan was because his work represented ‘what fine should be about’.
“Jonathan joined the Fine Art undergraduate degree programme at the University in September 2022,” said Dr Turner.
“Throughout has developed a distinctive visual aesthetic that balances the familiar with the unknown giving rise to a rich visual experience.
“Central to Jonathan’s third year practice is the notion of surveillance, and a questioning of individual autonomy and ownership within contemporary society.
“The award of the Storrar Cowdry Solicitor’s Prize for Fine Art is in recognition not only of Jonathan’s development and future potential as an artist but also acknowledges the prescience of his chosen subject matter and the conceptual position his work occupies.
“His practice achieves what good Fine Art should achieve, namely presenting us with the visual while simultaneously posing questions of the viewer that are universal in their nature.”
Jane Devine, partner at Storrar Cowdry, also praised Jonathan’s work.
She said: “We would like to congratulate Jonathan on his work.
Read more
“It is an interesting concept of surveillance and technology in our very different world where art as in history is used to tell a story.”
This Years Fine Art, Fashion Design Interia Design Photography and Product design Undergraduate Degree Show has a new home this year in The Castlefield Gallery New Art spaces, Units 12-16 In the Grosvenor Shopping Centre.
The Galleries are open to the public from Friday, June 13 through to June 28.
Dr Turner added that he was looking forward to the new venue.
He said: “This is a new and exciting venue for The University, enabling more people to view our graduates work.”