Paul Hamlyn Foundation award win for Goldsmiths artist

A Lecturer in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London has been awarded a major prize from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to support her creative growth.

Becky Beasley will receive the £60,000 no-strings-attached award as one of ten visual artists and composers the Foundation supports each year through its Awards for Artists scheme.

Funding is given on the basis of a mixture of factors: talent, tenacity, promise and need, as well as achievement to date. Many recipients are creating work recognised internationally as significant but not commercially viable enough to allow the artist full freedom and commitment to their practice.

The scheme was launched in 1994 and has supported 160 artists to date. Becky Beasley is the tenth Goldsmiths staff member to receive Paul Hamlyn Foundation funding in the past ten years, with recipients including Bonnie Camplin (2014) and Janice Kerbel (2011). Both went on to be nominated for the Turner Prize in 2015. 

Becky is a Hastings-based artist who works in sculpture, installation and photography. She graduated from Goldsmiths in 1999 with a BA in Fine Art and Art History and in 2002 with an MA Fine Art (Photography) from Royal College of Art. 

Solo exhibitions and performances include Plan B Gallery, Berlin; 80WSE Gallery, New York; Towner Gallery, Eastbourne; SKUC Public Gallery, Ljubljana; South London Gallery, London; Leeds City Gallery, Leeds; Spike Island, Bristol; Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, London and Tate Britain, London. 

She is a Lecturer in Fine Art (Studio Practice) within the Department of Art at Goldsmiths, teaching students studying for BA Fine Art.

Speaking to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation after receiving the award confirmation, Becky said - 

"The award came at a huge crossroads moment for me and allows me to freely take the fork I most wanted for my work and life. I believe the award came now because of my inability to give up or compromise against the odds, particularly since the birth of my son four years ago. My mental health difficulties have been my greatest adversary and my greatest strength. The award is utterly empowering at this newly mid-career moment."

Read more on the Paul Hamlyn Foundation website