We are pleased to announce that Esther Castle has been awarded the New Blood Art Emerging Art Prize for her exceptional degree show work. Nominated by her fine art tutors, Esther’s work stood out for its originality, depth of storytelling, and the confidence evident in her large-scale pieces.
Watch the video to hear the judges’ insights on Esther Castle’s award-wining work.
We are pleased to announce that Esther Castle has been awarded the New Blood Art Emerging Art Prize for her exceptional degree show work. Nominated by her fine art tutors, Esther’s work stood out for its originality, depth of storytelling, and the confidence evident in her large-scale pieces.
Aneira Thomas: Winner of the Emerging Art Prize Public Vote
About the Prize
The New Blood Art Emerging Art Prize recognises the most outstanding fine art graduates from across the UK. Unlike open-call competitions, artists are nominated by their tutors, ensuring that those selected have demonstrated exceptional artistic commitment and development throughout their degree. The prize is designed to support emerging artists in the critical transition from higher education to establishing their professional practice.
Jury Panel
Alongside Sarah Ryan, founder of New Blood Art and the New Blood Art Emerging Art Prize, the selection this year was made by:
• Peter Hargreaves CBE – Co-founder of Hargreaves Lansdown, the UK’s largest direct-to-investor investment platform. A highly respected business leader and passionate supporter of the arts and emerging talent.
• Jim Rajan – Artist, writer, and founder of The Subtle Qualities School, the first of its kind for sensitives and highly creative individuals. He works with artists and professionals in deeply meaningful ways, helping them develop their creative and personal potential.
• Jury Comments
Peter Hargreaves CBE:
“At first glance, Esther’s work struck me as completely uncommercial. But then I looked again – and again. Would I display her work in my house? Yes, absolutely. It would get copious comment, and I would never tire of it. At the first run-through, I had three contenders, but two stood out: Tilly Cooke, and Esther Castle, alongside Aneira Thomas.
Esther shows amazing confidence in producing such large works. Perhaps adversity can make you confident. I won’t forget Esther’s work.
..Amazingly, despite my fear that we wouldn’t have a consensus, we appear to agree. I did look through all the artists a number of times, and I choose Esther.”
• Jim Rajan:
“What draws me to Esther’s work – what makes it stand apart – is the depth of the story it tells. As Salvador Dalí said, ‘Every artist creates a cosmogony of themselves.’ That’s exactly what she’s doing – constructing a world that is entirely her own, something that expands the more you look at it. Among all the artists we considered, many created beautifully crafted pieces, but only two truly gave me that sense of an artist revealing their entire world. The more I look at them, the more I see that. Esther is one of them. The other is Christian Sloan.
What also inspires me about Esther’s work is where she’s going to take it. Some artists present a complete body of work – a set of paintings that feel self-contained – but with her, there’s a sense of evolution. I find myself asking: what comes next? There’s an unwritten intrigue in her creation, a feeling that these little characters, these forms, will keep evolving. It’s not something I get from anyone else – not that I should, or that others have failed – but with her, it’s different. I want to follow where she goes next. And that’s fascinating.”
• Sarah Ryan:
“One of the most striking things about Esther’s work is the way she has transmuted and alchemised her personal experience into her practice. Reading about her inspiration and motivation was incredibly moving. Her work is deeply rooted in that process – an exploration of resilience, transformation, and survival.
Beyond the personal narrative, there’s something remarkable about Esther’s artistic vision. She embodies that rare quality of true originality. It’s something rare I’ve heard other collectors speak about – the feeling of standing in front of a work that is entirely unique, born from a place that is wholly the artist’s own, not referencing anyone else. That kind of work can be unsettling at first.. because it isn’t instantly familiar. It takes a certain boldness to recognise and embrace something truly new.
Esther’s work carries that quality. It doesn’t fit into immediate commercial categories, yet paradoxically, I believe she has both – an undeniable artistic integrity and something that, over time, will hold significant appeal.”
Acknowledgments
The following artists were shortlisted or noted by the jury during the selection process:
• Tilly Cooke
• Christian Sloan
• Aneira Thomas
• Allison Gretchko
Future Opportunities
New Blood Art has been championing emerging artists for 20 years, working closely with art colleges to discover and support outstanding new talent. As an online gallery, our focus is on giving artists visibility and exposure – placing their work in front of collectors and audiences who are passionate about discovering new voices.
By awarding Esther Castle the New Blood Art Emerging Art Prize, we are shining a light on her work, providing her with a platform to reach a wider audience at this critical early stage in her career.
As part of her award, Esther will receive monthly mentorship from Sarah Ryan, founder of New Blood Art. Sarah brings a unique combination of expertise – as a gallery founder, an art tutor, and a qualified psychotherapist. This approach provides artists with support that goes beyond career guidance, helping them develop a clear artistic direction, navigate the challenges of post-graduation life, and sustain their creative practice with confidence.
In addition, Jim Rajan will offer a mentoring session, bringing his experience in working with highly sensing and creative individuals. As an artist, writer, and founder of The Subtle Qualities School, Jim specialises in helping artists develop clarity, resilience, and deeper creative engagement – offering insights that may help Esther strengthen her practice in meaningful ways.
What’s Esther doing next? In her own words:
I’ve just started my ESW/ECA graduate award residency at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop allowing me to gain more experience and technical skills when creating sculptural work. My three-month residency gives me access to training from ESW’s technical team, a studio space, a materials budget as well as mentorship from the program team.
In the past I have experimented in creating sculptural work, however through the guidance of Edinburgh Sculpture Workshops team, I feel my art practice has grown. The technician’s expert knowledge and their approach to making has allowed me to begin to realise ambitious curious objects as well as helping me experiment with materials I haven’t worked with before. This has resulted in sculpture becoming a more valuable and enthralling part of my art practice.
So far, I have experimented with creating clay figures as well as testing out ideas through casting techniques. I’m also hoping to create peculiar metal structures that juxtapose and obstruct the figures I create to act as a form of stage set when creating installation work with both my sculptures and my paintings.
In the immediate future I’m preparing for an exhibition in April with my fellow ESW/ECA graduate award winners at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop and I’m looking for further residencies. I’m also excited to see how the sculptures I’ve been creating interact with new paintings I’ve been working on as an installation.