News / 15 Sep 2026
Anthony Earnshaw Bursary Prize 2026 winners awarded
MA Comic Art and Graphic Novel
MA Fine Art
MA Illustration
The annual Anthony Earnshaw Bursary Prize has been awarded to three MA students who exhibited at the Bish Bash Bosh Postgraduate Show 2026.
The bursary prize was set up by artist Patrick Hughes in memory of his friend, the surrealist artist and fellow alumnus Anthony Earnshaw. Each year, the award recognises the outstanding work by students graduating from our postgraduate MA courses.
This year's winner and runners-up award were judged by Patrick Hughes, with the first prize awarded to MA Illustration with Graphic Novel's (now MA Illustration) Claire O'Brien, whose work 'A Life Unlived: Track One, Side One' and 'Hidden Treasures' drew particular acclaim for how it incorporated the use of memorabilia “so wisely and sensitively”. Runners-up prizes were awarded to Lili Ghane (MA Fine Art) and Teagan-Coel Robinson (MA Comic Art and Graphic Novel), with Lili's sculpture praised as “original and moving”, and Teagan-Coel commended for their “drawing and design and thinking”.
"I’m absolutely thrilled to have been selected for this year’s Anthony Earnshaw Bursary Prize. I’d like to thank my tutors and classmates who supported me during my MA and encouraged me to take risks with this project. It means so much to see the result of two years of hard work recognised in this way. It is truly an honour and I am grateful to Patrick for his insight and kind words."
Claire O'Brien, MA Illustration with Graphic Novel student
“This award will be the beginning of a winding and fascinating path for me and has made me more confident than ever that efforts, pursuit, and heartfelt interest in any field will definitely not go unanswered and will have their own impact. I am sincerely happy to have been selected by one of the most prestigious in the arts and that this favour has been bestowed upon me. I hope this success will smooth my professional path and bring other good things with it.”
Lili Ghane, MA Fine Art student
"Being selected for the award, was a cherry on top of an already great year. But knowing that Patrick Hughes, who significantly incluenced my final major project, has found my work worthy of this award has given me the confidence and the freedom to continue my ever evolving practice. So, in honour of the great Anthony Earnshaw, thank you."
Teagan-Coel Robinson, MA Comic Art and Graphic Novel student
Five students were shortlisted alongside Claire, Lili, and Teagan-Coel for this year's award. Luka Lee (MA Animation), Kaitlyn Bullen (MA Creative Practice), Klaudia Zulewicz (MA Fashion), Meg Houghton (MA Graphic Design, and Louie Halsam-Chance (MA Photography) were all recognised for their high standard of work, and the variety and depth of enquiry. Reflecting on this year's shortlisted artists, Patrick commented "My overall impression is that Tony Earnshaw would be thrilled to know how imaginative and resourceful these people are.”
"Tony Earnshaw was a poet and a painter and a novelist, an aphorist, and best-known as a maker of original and witty box art. In his memory, as an artist and a surrealist and an anarchist, a life-lover and constant friend, the Anthony Earnshaw Bursary rewards these students for their imagination and talented work."
Patrick Hughes, artist and Leeds Arts University alumni