Left to right: Vikki Fitt, Katy Pendleton, Ella-Rose Wadsworth, Jocelyn Taylor and Alan Ager. Katy and Ella-Rose were selected as joint winners of the 2026 Bryan Harris Bursary by Arts Society Derby judges.
Ella-Rose Wadsworth and Katy Pendleton, both students on the UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication at the Joseph Wright Centre, will share the £500 bursary, which recognises outstanding creativity, technical skill and personal expression.
The award helps support students as they progress into higher education and creative careers.
The annual competition was judged by Arts Society Derby members Vikki Fitt, Jocelyn Taylor and Alan Ager.
Five students were shortlisted, with Ella-Rose and Katy selected as this year’s joint winners.
Award-winning art projects
Ella-Rose Wadsworth’s project explored surf counter-culture, travel and alternative lifestyles, reflecting on the desire to break away from the traditional nine-to-five routine and embrace adventure and self-discovery.
She plans to use her share of the bursary to purchase art materials as she prepares to study Fine Art at the University of Salford.
Ella-Rose Wadsworth with part of her award-winning final major project, inspired by surf counter-culture, travel and alternative lifestyles. Ella-Rose was named joint winner of the 2025 Bryan Harris Bursary.
Katy Pendleton’s work celebrated Japanese heritage and the natural world through a collection of hand-finished surface designs and wallpapers.
Using bold patterns, colour and hand-painted gold detailing, her designs captured the beauty, rhythm and movement found in nature.
Katy intends to invest her bursary funding in creative materials before progressing to Loughborough University to study Textiles.
Katy Pendleton with her Japanese-inspired collection of surface designs and wallpapers, featuring nature-inspired patterns, colour and hand-painted detailing. Katy was named joint winner of the 2025 Bryan Harris Bursary.
Praise for Derby College’s emerging artists
Tracey Ramsdale, Teacher of Art and Design at DCG, said:
“Ella-Rose and Katy are brilliant examples of the talent we see coming through our Art & Design courses year after year.
“Both have such a clear, confident sense of who they are as artists, and that comes through in every piece they make.
“Watching their ideas develop from a first spark into finished, exhibition-ready work has been a real privilege, and I could not be prouder of everything the whole group has achieved this year.
“I also want to say how proud we are of Kitty, Bella and Paige; their work was every bit as strong and they should be every bit as proud of what they have produced.”
The other shortlisted students – Kitty Rains, Bella Gration and Paige Annable – were also praised for producing a diverse range of high-quality work.
Arts Society Derby commends exceptional standard
Vikki Fitt, Young Arts Representative at Arts Society Derby, marked her tenth year judging the award and highlighted the exceptional standard of entries:
“Every year I think the standard cannot get any higher, and every year these students prove me wrong.
“What struck me this year was how unique each piece was; the range of skills and materials on show was genuinely inspiring.
“Having judged this award for ten years now, seeing this calibre of work gives me great hope for the future of the creative industries.”
The Bryan Harris Bursary continues to showcase the outstanding talent emerging from Derby College Group’s Art & Design courses, recognising students whose creativity and artistic vision have the potential to shape the future of the creative sector.
