Hewett Academy Student named ‘Most Inspiring’ by Royal Academy of Arts

Hewett Academy is thrilled to announce that student, Ben Varghese who’s artwork ‘Red House’ was chosen for this year’s Young Artists’ Summer Show, has been selected by the Royal Academy of Art’s President, Rebecca Salter, for one of the ‘Most Inspiring’ prizes within the KS4 category.

Ben’s artwork, ‘Red House’ which was selected to exhibit at the Royal Academy of Art in London as part of their Young Artists’ Summer Show, alongside three of his fellow Hewett Academy students. This is an outstanding achievement for Ben as not only was his work chosen for the onsite exhibition, from over 21,000 submissions, but he has also received a ‘Most Inspiring’ prize from 478 artworks taking part in the exhibition.  

Hewett Academy was delighted to announce earlier this year that four of their students’ artworks were selected for the Young Artists’ Summer Show 2023, an annual exhibition at the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts in London and showcasing young artists aged 4 - 19 from across the UK. The artworks were selected by artists and arts professionals with the chosen artworks displayed online and on-site at the Royal Academy of Arts from Tuesday 18th July to Sunday 13th August. The students involved are Olivia Kenyon Year 11, Lacy Mills Year 11, Ben Varghese Year 11, and Nicola Radosz Year 7.

Ben’s ‘Red House’ is a wooden sculpture of a building inspired by scaffolding, nests and Japanese architecture. Ben enjoyed taking his work from 2D drawings into 3D forms and produced this wall art using dowel rods. As part of the prize, Ben has won a £100 art materials voucher, as well as a £500 prize for his school so that Hewett Academy can purchase art materials for his peers to use in the new school year. 

During his time at Hewett Academy, Ben said that a highlight for him was experimenting with materials and creating 3D models of his drawings during the art course, and felt his best achievement was being selected for the Royal Academy of Arts’ Young Artists Summer Show 2023. Now that he has completed his secondary education, he plans to continue his studies at Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, which is ranked as one of the best sixth form colleges in the country. 

Antony Little, Principal of Hewett Academy said:

"We are absolutely delighted for Ben - what an incredible achievement and an outstanding end to the school year, and Ben's secondary education! We wish him all the best for his very bright future - I have no doubt that he will go on to accomplish amazing things." 

Head of Creative Arts at The Hewett Academy, Amy Lee said:

“To have been selected from 21,000 entries is an exceptional achievement. To be selected by the President as a work of inspiration is fantastically surreal and well deserved. We are proud of Ben's attitude to learning regardless of accolades and awards however this affirmation endorses his effort and ability and will provide him with further art materials to continue his creative journey either independently or within higher education.” 

Ben’s work can be seen alongside the rest of the prize winners on the Royal Academy of Arts website here. The Young Artists’ Summer Show 2023 is now open at the Royal Academy of Arts until Sunday 13th August.