ARTIST OF THE YEAR 25

JUDGES

All artworks will be thoughtfully judged by our esteemed panel of experts, celebrated for their extensive creative expertise and keen artistic eye.

The panel includes Mimi Spendriff, Curator and Gallery Manager; Gemma Peppé, Founder of Art on a Postcard; Elizabeth Fullerton, writer and critic; Stephen Snoddy, Gallery Director and Professor; Bea Last, artist and educator; and Jessica Cerasi, contemporary art curator, author, and educator.

MEET THE JUDGES

Jessica Cerasi

Jessica Cerasi is a contemporary art curator, author, and educator. With over fifteen years’ experience as a curator across institutions such as the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the UK Government Art Collection, and the Hayward Gallery, she specialises in developing major exhibitions, building collections, and shaping public programmes that engage international audiences.

Jessica has worked on the curatorial teams of the 2016 Biennale of Sydney and the 2019 Venice Biennale. Passionate about fostering contemporary art appreciation, she is the author of Who’s Afraid of Contemporary Art? and Contemporary Art Decoded. She has taught sold-out courses at Tate Modern, bridging scholarship and storytelling to demystify contemporary art and expand its reach. Jessica holds advanced degrees in art history from UCL and the Courtauld Institute.

Bea Last

Bea Last is a professional Contemporary Artist, Mentor, and Educator. She has exhibited widely, most recently in Venice as a finalist for the Laguna Arte Prize and in York in 2023 as a finalist for the Aesthetica Art Prize. In 2024, Bea was honoured with the VAA Artist of the Year Award, as well as the local Artist of the Year award from D&G Life, sponsored by The Crichton Trust, in recognition of her contributions to the Dumfries and Galloway community.

With extensive experience across commercial galleries, corporate commissions, public exhibitions, and artist-run initiatives, Bea has served on various selection panels in partnership with Creative Scotland – the Scottish equivalent of The Arts Council. As a Mentor and Educator, Bea facilitates UpLand Arts’ Visual Arts Studio Portfolio Preparation Course – designed for young artists applying to art school. She also mentors both emerging and established artists, supporting them in their creative careers.

Stephen Snoddy

Stephen Snoddy is the Director of The New Art Gallery, Walsall, an Honorary Member of the Royal Ulster Academy, and a former Visiting Professor at Manchester School of Art.

His career spans influential roles in leading galleries, including Arnolfini Gallery, Cornerhouse Manchester, Southampton City Art Gallery, and BALTIC Gateshead, where he curated major exhibitions with renowned artists like Rachel Whiteread, John Baldessari, and Chris Ofili.

In 2013, Stephen returned to painting, exhibiting in Brussels, Southampton, and London. His work is in public collections worldwide, including those in Northern Ireland, Spain, China, and the UK, as well as in private collections across Europe, the USA, and beyond.

Elizabeth Fullerton

Elizabeth Fullerton is a critic, writer, podcaster, and doctoral researcher at Birkbeck College, University of London. With a passion for the intersection of art, culture, and society, she has contributed to several prestigious international publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Art Monthly, Art in America, ARTnews, and Art Quarterly.

As an expert in contemporary art, Elizabeth is the author of Artrage! The Story of the BritArt Revolution. In addition to her writing, Elizabeth co-hosts the podcast Art Fictions, where she explores the imaginative and narrative dimensions of art. Her academic work as a doctoral researcher further fuels her dedication to the exploration of art history and its cultural implications, ensuring that her contributions continue to shape the ongoing conversation within the field.

Mimi Spendriff

Mimi Spendiff is the Gallery Manager at Print Club London, a vibrant screenprinting studio and contemporary online gallery located in Hackney, East London. In her role, she works closely with the studio’s community of artists, helping to showcase a wide variety of limited edition screenprints, original artworks, and curating exciting drops for collectors. Prior to joining Print Club London, Mimi was a curator at Artfinder, an online art marketplace, where she curated unique collections and collaborated with artists to refine and expand their portfolios.

With a First Class Honours degree in Photography from the University of the West of England, Mimi brings over three years of experience in both sales and curation to her work. Her career also includes roles at a contemporary art gallery featuring artists like Billy Childish, and as an Artist Liaison at Art Republic. Driven by a passion for creating dynamic art collections and fostering artist development, Mimi is committed to connecting collectors with fresh, engaging art.

Gemma Peppé

Gemma Peppé founded Art on a Postcard in 2014 to fundraise for The Hepatitis C Trust, leveraging her experience as a music agent. Before this, she managed the Trust’s high-profile prevention campaigns, What Not to Share and Get Tested, featuring collaborations with Lily Allen, Mark Ronson, Bella Freud, Sadie Frost, and Boy George.

Under Gemma’s leadership, Art on a Postcard has raised over £2 million, receiving around 1,000 artworks annually. Contributors range from established artists like Marina Abramović, Peter Blake, and Paula Rego to emerging talents such as Antonia Showering and Victoria Cantons. The auctions have also showcased leading photographers, including Miles Aldridge and Wolfgang Tillmans. Art on a Postcard now collaborates with independent curators and other charities. In recent years, it has fundraised for Choose Love, War Child UK, and St Wilfrid’s Hospice. In 2024, Gemma launched the inaugural Sound and Vision event in aid of War Child.