Three postgraduate alumni from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) have been selected to display their work as part of the prestigious Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize exhibition, ahead of its national tour, which includes The Gallery, AUB Campus.
MA Fine Art alumni Richard Gregory and Sophie Firth, as well as PhD alumna Juliette Losq, were chosen from more than 2,600 international entries by over 1,400 artists across 48 countries.
Selected as part of a final shortlist of just 92 drawings by 86 artists, their work will feature in the 32nd edition of the exhibition, which offers awards totalling £18,000.
Also among the featured artists is Professor Emerita of Contemporary Drawing Practice, Siân Bowen, who received a Highly Commended Award for one of her two selected works.
Siân, who established and continues to lead AUB's DRAWING: Transformative Matter, Material Trace Research Group, attended the London opening at Trinity Buoy Wharf alongside colleagues and fellow contemporary artists to celebrate the launch of the exhibition, which is widely recognised as the UK’s most prominent open exhibition dedicated to contemporary drawing practice.
“Juliette, Sophie and Richard are also all members of AUB’s research group in drawing," comments Siân. " It’s a really wonderful achievement – and testament to the value that AUB continues to place on drawing in all its rich and diverse forms.”
The shortlist was selected by an expert panel comprising Matthew Burrows MBE (artist and founder of Artist Support Pledge), Sook-Kyung Lee (Director of the Whitworth), and Professor Anita Taylor (founding Director of the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize).
The selection comes at an exciting time for AUB as it prepares to host the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026 on campus in November.
The internationally renowned exhibition opens The Gallery’s 2026–27 Exhibition Programme, marking the eighth time AUB has hosted the showcase and continuing its long-standing commitment to championing excellence, innovation, and diversity in contemporary drawing.
“It is an absolute privilege for us to host the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize exhibition here at The Gallery," says Violet McClean, Curator and Manager of The Gallery and Summer Shows Creative Director.
“This exhibition is a cornerstone for contemporary drawing practice, and welcoming it to campus allows our students, staff, and wider community to engage directly with work of such incredible calibre. Having our own alumni and academics featured alongside the shortlisted artists makes bringing the show to AUB even more special.”
The upcoming exhibition will offer visitors the opportunity to view the shortlisted works firsthand, celebrating both international drawing talent and the extraordinary achievements of AUB’s creative community.
The AUB Hang of the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026 will take place from 27 November, running until 12 February 2027. The formal opening and private view event will take place on 26 November.
