University of Lancashire student wins awards for thought-provoking artwork depicting domestic abuse

A University of Lancashire student from the Fylde coast has won multiple awards for her thought-provoking artwork depicting domestic abuse.

22-year-old Genevieve Lloyd from St Annes drew on personal experience for her final project as a Fine Art student.

The former Carr Hill High School and Cardinal Newman College pupil told the Post: “The project's called Anonymous Harm and the theme is about domestic violence and abuse against women. It’s something that I have personal experience with, a few people that I know, but it was mainly based on me.

“They're all little ceramic sculptures that represent different women who have gone through different circumstances of abuse or violence. I have brought them all together as victims so they can find each other, talk and love each other. It's just to raise awareness of the topic.”

The project featured in the University of Lancashire's latest Degree Show, which wrapped up on Friday, and garnered not one, but two, wins at the prestigious Degree Show Awards.

Each course team at the show selects one standout student to be put forward for six industry-sponsored awards and the winners are chosen by a panel of expert judges.

Genevieve was awarded the Highly Commended Enterprise Award, sponsored by Creative Lancashire, and the Society and Sustainability Award, sponsored by British Textiles Biennial, for her work.

What makes the award wins extra special is that every sponsor also offers their winner “a real, tangible opportunity to help them take their first steps into the industry”, according to the Preston-based university.

Genevieve’s first opportunity is coming up next Friday, when she’s on the guest list for a National Festival of Making meeting in Blackburn.

Asked how she felt about her awards success, she said: “I was surprised but also not. I know that I'm capable but when it actually happens, it’s quite surprising, and it made me feel like I was doing the right thing.”

Genevieve, who is going on to study a masters in ceramics at the University, also used her award-winning project to raise funds for the domestic violence charity Refuge.

She made miniature versions of her sculptures to sell at the Degree Show for £5 each and has been blown away by the support she has received.

Having raised £500 so far, Genevieve told us “It's quite emotional. I just can't believe it, really.”

That total could potentially grow too as she has had offers of interest to buy her biggest sculptures as well, now that the Degree Show is over.

Genevieve said: “Because of the topic, it didn't feel like I was doing enough to just make art, I wanted to make an impact as well. From selling my art, and donating the funds to Refuge, the money will go directly to victims to help them, so that was like the main goal for the whole project, really.”

If you would like to support Genevieve’s fundraising by purchasing some of her art, you can message her on Instagram or email [email protected]