THE names of 11 artists who will compete to be named the fifth Gillian Dickinson North East Young Sculptor, have been announced.

Joanna Riddell, founder of Cheeseburn Sculpture park based near Stamfordham, initiated the partnership with the Gillian Dickinson Trust in 2015 – an organisation established in memory of publisher Gillian Dickinson, who died in 2002.

Since then, the young sculptor award has existed to encourage young artists studying, working or originating from the North-East to create a proposal for an exhibition at Cheeseburn.

Shortlisted artists are given £300 to develop their proposals, which are displayed at Cheeseburn and visitors can vote for their favourite idea.

A selection panel will choose one winner who will be awarded £6,500 to develop their concept into an exhibition to be displayed at Cheeseburn in 2021.

This year, visitors will be able to view the shortlisted artist’s proposals on May 23 to 25 and May 30 to 31. The winning artist will also receive advice and support from Matthew Jarratt, curator and artist mentor at Cheeseburn.

Mrs Riddell said: “We are delighted to be able to continue to showcase the work of emerging young artists.

"Thanks to the generous support of the Gillian Dickinson Trust we are able to offer this special opportunity to young artists in the North-East each year, it is a chance to celebrate the talent that is being nurtured in the North-East.”

The shortlisted artists are: Angharad Creissen, a fourth-year Fine Art student at Newcastle University; Brandon Saunders, a second-year Fine Art student at Newcastle University; Cameron Lings, a third-year Fine Art student at Teesside University; Jade Booth-Malone, a third-year Fine Art student at Northumbria University; Jed Buttress, a Fine Art graduate of Newcastle University; Jenny McNamara, an MFA Fine Art graduate of Newcastle University, who works at The Newbridge Project; Laurie Powell, a Leeds Arts University Fine Art graduate living in Alnwick; Maximilane Ley, a fourth-year Fine Art student at Newcastle University; Rebecca Mars, an MA Fine Art graduate of University of Sunderland; Taya Franco, a Fine Art graduate of Newcastle University, and Will Copley, a second-year Fine Art student at Newcastle University.

Mr Jarratt said: “We will now provide support and mentoring for our shortlisted artists over the next three months, helping them to develop their ideas for installations.

"It is the first time these artists have had a budget to work with and an outdoor site to consider and we’re happy to be able to support young artists to develop their creative skills to meet the challenges of making sculpture in the environment.”

Last year's winner was 21-year-old Northumbria University graduate, Bethan Williams, who created ‘Beatrix and Her Friends on Tour’ for display this year.