The Mick Bateman Memorial Award
In 2022, the artistic community suffered a profound loss with the unexpected passing of Mick Bateman, a dedicated artist and sculptor. Mick’s absence is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him. We fondly remember his boundless energy, his boundless creativity, and, most of all, his unwavering belief in and encouragement of others.
Mick was an artist sculptor who worked primarily in metal. He had a studio with Bow Arts for over thirteen years, during which time he grew and established his practice. He was a generous artist and a significant figure within our community. He wore many hats over his time, including Director of the London Comedy Festival and Director of Crisis at Christmas.
Eventually in 2010 he set up the Bermondsey Project on behalf of Crisis and in partnership with Bow Arts. The project provided an art college focused on supporting ex-homeless people, a contemporary art gallery and a cinema, as well as supporting the creation of the London Sculpture Workshop. Next to the project, Bow Arts managed over 150 affordable artist studios in the same complex.
When the lease ended in 2015, Mick decided to leave London and re-established himself in Lisbon, Portugal where his influence as a sculptor grew even more. Today, you can see many of his amazing creations dotted all around the city.
Mick always supported and believed in helping people, and it is with this in mind that his family would like his legacy to emulate his attitude to life.
Winners & Shortlist 2024
We are delighted to announce that Isabelle Pead and Ann Course are the winners of the inaugural Mick Bateman Memorial Award, with artists Bodie Jade Stanley and Silvia Lerin shortlisted from over 50 entries.
“I am absolutely delighted to have been selected for this great opportunity. Having the space and facilities the Mick Bateman Memorial Award offers will allow me the freedom to explore new materials, techniques and scale in my work – without which, would otherwise not be possible.
I am excited by this prospect and eager to see where it takes me, creatively speaking. What a wonderful legacy this award is!”
Ann Course
Isabelle Pead
Isabelle Pead (b. London 1996) is an artist working across sculpture, sound, video and performance. She received a BA (hons) from the University of Leeds in 2019 and an MA in Fine Art from The Slade in 2023. Her work is informed by actions of storytelling and collectivism, exploring the relationship between the voice and the sounding body through considered installation. Drawing on her background in choral and operatic singing, she combines sculptural objects, images and electronic/synthesised sound with her own singing and vocalisations, exploring the material and relational properties of sound and the interaction between performer, space and object. Read Isabelle’s artist spotlight.
Ann Course
Ann Course was born in Watford in 1965 and studied at Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art. Her films and sculptures have been widely screened and exhibited, including Tate Britain, the Rotterdam Film Festival, Oberhausen film Festival, LUX gallery, First Site Gallery, Colchester and the Whitechapel Gallery, London. She teaches at Camberwell College of Arts and Central Saint Martins School of Art.
‘Winning the Mick Bateman Memorial award feels incredibly special to me. The support from both Bow Arts and London Sculpture Workshop is so exciting as it provides stability for my studio, allowing me to invest more time and resources into my practice, particularly focusing on metalworking.’
Isabelle Pead
What is the Mick Bateman Memorial Award?
The Mick Bateman Memorial Award is a new award set up with specific intention to support and encourage emerging artists working in metal.
Each award offers:
- Two years of financial support towards the whole cost of a professional artist studio at Bow Arts. The award is up to a maximum of £2,000 in any one year.
- Up to £1,000 (equivalent to 8 days) access to courses and/or workshop time in the London Sculpture Workshop.
London Sculpture Workshop provides high quality facilities for anyone who wants to make in 3D – offering an extensive range of professional level short courses taught by practising artists. These cover a wide range of techniques including bronze casting, metalwork, mould making and woodworking. This partnership offers the award winner valuable access to professional equipment and expert advice.
Applications are welcome from all artists. If you do not have a studio at Bow Arts already, offers will be subject to a suitable space becoming available.
The individual awards will be selected by a panel drawn from Bow Arts and London Sculpture Workshop on behalf of the family.
How can I apply for the Mick Bateman Memorial Award?
Submissions for the Mick Bateman Memorial Award will open again early in 2026. Find out more about prizes, awards & residencies at Bow Arts.
More about Bow Arts Trust
Since 1994, Bow Arts has nurtured London’s diverse creativity and talent, providing artists and creatives with affordable workspace and connecting them with local communities and opportunities. Read more on our about page.
More about London Sculpture Workshop
London Sculpture Workshop was founded to meet the need for accessible, inclusive, affordable, high-quality facilities for anyone who wants to make in 3D (including those outside the formal FE/HE education system). A founder partner for 2 years was CRISIS, developing a specially tailored education programme for their clients.
LSW is ambitious and committed to inclusivity and is driven to contribute to the community. LSW has always prided itself in its inclusivity, providing opportunities to artists and makers of all abilities and backgrounds, and providing them with the highest quality facilities and expertise through all our strands of education and development programmes.