Visual Art Open l Judges

VAO Judges 2019

The VAO appoints members from the contemporary art world to join the expert panel judging each year's applications. The members can be artists, writers, art critics, professors, collectors and curators.

Dr Jeremy Turner

Jeremy is the programme leader and senior lecturer in Fine Art at the University of Chester. He has gained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Manchester Polytechnic, an MA from Bretton Hall College and a PhD by practice from the University of Leeds. Jeremy is fascinated and excited by the process of making and the manipulation of materials and objects, he is also interested in industrial development and histories.

Cliff Richard MBE, judge for the Visual Art Open Prize, an artist opporunity for those living in the UK & Abroad

Lisa Edwards

Lisa works at the Grosvenor Estate, where she has managed the Grosvenor fine art collection since 2016. Prior to this, Lisa completed a Master’s Degree in Cultural History at The University of Liverpool in 2012. An aspiring curator, Lisa worked in a variety of roles as a graduate at Tate Liverpool, English Heritage and Canal & River Trust museums and completed a Collections Management traineeship. Lisa has always had a keen interest in art and antiques. In 2007 she participated in the Young Artists in Tuscany programme where she studied the art of the Italian Renaissance in Italy and produced work in a range of media.

Barry Davies

Intrinsically artistic and previously trained as a precision engineer, Barry started up a small business in 1989 as a cabinet maker. The carving rapidly developed to sculpture and realizing the need to extend his knowledge of the traditions of sculpture, he studied Art History with the Open University. Barry’s passion for anthropology, palaeontology and anatomical study has led him to not only create bronze sculptures but also tutoring classes in clay modelling of these subjects. Since 2010 Barry has exhibited his sculptures in the UK and Europe including Chester Arts Fair, Chelsea London, Uffizi gallery, Florence, Bramante Halls, Rome, Flagini Palace, Venice, Verona and Barcelona.

Phil Redmond CBE

Phil is well known for creating several popular television series such as Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks. He was appointed a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to drama. In 1989, Phil was awarded the post of Honorary Professor of Media Studies at Liverpool John Moores University, where he is encouraging a new, practically-orientated, media studies course. In November 2010 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Chester and Phil is Chair of National Museums Liverpool and of the UK City of Culture Independent Advisory Panel.

Alexis Redmond MBE

Alexis, the wife of Phil Redmond, has spent the past year in the role of the High Sheriff of Cheshire which is is an independent non-political Royal appointment. She received an MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for her services to the community in Merseyside. Alexis is a trustee of the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal, Liverpool John Moores University and National Museums Liverpool.

Previous VAO Judges

Karen van Hoey Smith

Owner of KvH Artbroker and Partner at Tunisan Collaboartive Painting in the UK, Karen has a wealth of experience in the art and antiques business spanning over 20 years she represents UK and International talent. Taking on various roles including valuer, auctioneer and TV consultant expert on BBC Bargain Hunt, a contemporary art dealer in London and Bristol and independent art and antiques broker representing various contemporary artists.

David Klein

After starting his working life in engineering David assisted the sculptor John Jennings and realised his passion for sculpting. From there he undertook a Fine Arts degree at Staffordshire University. He then continued his studies with a postgraduate course in figurative sculpture at Frink School of Sculpture. Davids core belief is that form is the beating heart of sculpture.

Adrian Sumner from Chester, judge for the Visual Art Open Prize, an artist opporunity for those living in the UK & Abroad

Frances Ackland Snow, judge for the Visual Art Open Prize and artist represented by Whitewall Galleries. the VAO is an artist opporunity for those living in the UK & Abroad

Wendy Connelly

Wendy graduated from Central St. Martins and in 1991 was given an honorary membership to the Chelsea Arts Club. Her work has been represented by major galleries both nationally and internationally including Barnard Jacobson Gallery in London and recently Lakeside Gallery, Michigan, USA. Wendy is passionate about paint as a medium and explores pushing it to its raw qualities. She also runs art tuition workshops to inspire children through art.

Frances Ackland-Snow

Frances completed a Fine Art Foundation Course at Oxford before specialising in painting at Brighton University where she achieved a first class degree in Fine Art Painting. She became a scenic painter with the BBC. Frances went on to develop her career as a fine artist and has since enjoyed great commercial and critical success. Her work is widely exhibited across the UK and Europe and her paintings are in private collections around the world.