An evening with award winning portrait artist Clara Drummond

Artist Clara Drummond, the winner of the First Prize for the bp Portrait Award 2016, will be coming to Hull on Wednesday 6 December for the next bp Cultural Visions lecture

Clara's work has been exhibited five times in the bp Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery and in 2016 was awarded first prize for Girl in a Liberty Dress, a striking portrait of her friend and fellow artist Kirsty Buchanan.

In this lecture, Clara will talk about her career and creative journey, the challenges and obstacles she has faced, and how this shaped her into the person she is today. 

Born in Edinburgh, Clara studied Modern and Medieval Languages at Newnham College, Cambridge. She went on to work as an assistant to portrait painter Jonathan Yeo before completing the Drawing Year at the Royal Drawing School in 2006.

In 2015 Clara was one of 12 painters selected to portray veterans of the D-Day Landings. Her portrait of Dr Renouf was exhibited at The Queen's Gallery in May 2015 before being exhibited at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. In 2017 Drummond was commissioned by Her Majesty the Queen to do an Order of Merit portrait which is now part of the Royal Collection.

Other accolades include being awarded the Bulldog Award by the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Young Artist of the Year award by the Society of Women Artists.

Her work has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions and she is currently writing a book about drawing and artists’ sketchbooks, which is due to be published in March 2018.

Des Violaris, bp Director of UK Arts, Culture and Paralympics, said: “This year we have had the pleasure of welcoming an array of prominent speakers to Hull, where we have provided a fresh space to investigate and celebrate innovation and passion. The series was designed to spark cultural conversation and that has most certainly happened. We are very much looking forward to Clara’s perspective during what has been an incredible year for art.”

Fran Hegyi, Executive Director at Hull 2017, said: “We are delighted to welcome Clara to Hull and hear her story. This year has offered a unique chance to take an intimate look at the creative journey of some of the UK’s leading cultural visionaries, to listen to the challenges and the obstacles they faced and how this shaped them into the person they are today. Clara is one of the UK’s leading talents and well placed to be part of the conversation around a cultural vision for the future.”

Visit our website to watch the recordings of this year’s lectures.

The event will take place at 6.30pm on Wednesday 6 December in Middleton Hall at the University of Hull. Book online at: hull2017.co.uk/culturalvisions and culturenet.co.uk

For media enquiries, please contact Sarah Lilly at the University of Hull press office on 01482 462193 or s.l.lilly@hull.ac.uk

Notes to editors

bp support for UK Arts & Culture

In the UK, bp is a major supporter of the arts with a programme that spans over 50 years. bp’s investment in long term partnerships with the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House, and the Royal Shakespeare Company represent one of the most significant long-term corporate investments in UK arts and culture www.bp.com/arts.

bp is a global energy company with wide reach across the world’s energy system. The energy we produce serves to power economic growth and lift people out of poverty. In the future, the way heat, light and mobility are delivered will change. We aim to anchor our business in these changing patterns of demand, rather than in the quest for supply. We have a real contribution to make the world’s ambition of a low carbon future. We have operations in Europe, North and South America, Australasia, Asia and Africa, and employ around 75,000 people.

BP Hull is home to some of bp’s most innovative operations. We own and operate a chemical manufacturing facility which is the largest producer of acetic acid and acetic anhydride in Europe. bp is at the forefront of research and technology in the petrochemicals field, and Hull is one of our principle global centres for petrochemicals research and technology. In addition, Hull hosts part of bp’s Centre of Expertise in Applied Chemistry and Physics (AC&P). Earlier this year, we marked our 50thanniversary at bp Hull.  

Fast facts:

• 74,500 employees
• 72 countries
• 17,810 million boe proved reserves
• 18,000 retail sites
•  6,000+ marine voyages completed by bp-operated and chartered vessels
• $115 million profit attributable to bp shareholders
• 3.3 million boepd production
• $2.6 billion underlying replacement cost profit
• 109% group proved reserves replacement ratio

University of Hull

Creativity lives and breathes at the University of Hull – always has done, always will.

As a catalyst for creativity we are a keen supporter of arts and culture within our community and beyond – and now, as a principal partner of Hull UK City of Culture 2017 we are delighted to be an integral part of the celebrations.

The University of Hull is playing a significant role in producing and hosting some of the spectacular events that form part of the Hull 2017 programme including, in the first few months alone, an exhibition of drawings from some of art’s prominent masters from Matisse to Michelangelo; a film festival dedicated to Oscar-winning Director Minghella who kick-started his career here; and an exhibition of bp Portrait Award Commissions from the National Portrait Gallery featuring famous faces from Paul Smith to J.K. Rowling. Some of this activity is being held in our newly relaunched Middleton Hall which, following a £9.5million redevelopment, is now a world-class concert and arts venue.

University of Hull students, graduates and staff are at the heart of the programming with conferences, concerts and festivals showcasing their talent. In addition, as the exclusive academic partner we are an official partner in creativity and in helping to pave the way for future generations.

For further information visit www.hull.ac.uk

Hull UK City of Culture 2017

Hull UK City of Culture 2017 is a 365 day programme of cultural events and creativity inspired by the city and told to the world. Hull secured the title of UK City of Culture 2017 in November 2013. It is only the second city to hold the title and the first in England. Divided into four seasons, this nationally significant event draws on the distinctive spirit of the city and the artists, writers, directors, musicians, revolutionaries and thinkers that have made such a significant contribution to the development of art and ideas.

The Culture Company was set up to deliver the Hull 2017 programme and is an independent organisation with charitable status. It has raised £32 million, with over 70 partners supporting the project, including public bodies, trusts and foundations and local and national businesses.

Key contributions are coming from: Host City – Hull City Council; Principal Partners - Arts Council England, BBC, Big Lottery Fund, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, KCOM, KWL, Spirit of 2012, Yorkshire Water and the University of Hull; Major Partners –Associated British Ports, Arco, bp, the British Council, British Film Institute, Green Port Hull, Hull Clinical Commissioning Group, MKM Building Supplies, P&O Ferries, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Sewell Group, Siemens, Smith & Nephew and Wykeland Group. The National Lottery has contributed more than £10m of this funding, making it the largest single funding body for Hull 2017.

For information go to www.visithull.org.uk