University of Cumbria Graduate Wins Prestigious Derwent Prize for Excellence
British art materials manufacturer support university's emerging artists
Guðný Magnúsdóttir, a talented BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate from Iceland, has been awarded the esteemed Derwent Prize for Excellence by the University of Cumbria.
This accolade also signals a milestone - a decade of the university's partnership with the trusted art materials brand Derwent whose British manufacturing plant in Cumbria makes the majority of its products sold across the world.
Tracy Strong, manager of the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick, in England’s Lake District, and Catherine Coulson, Museum Supervisor, joined recent celebrations at Carlisle Cathedral to honour Guðný's remarkable achievement.
The Derwent Prize for Excellence is awarded to individuals who demonstrate outstanding skill, creativity, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
During her time on the BA (Hons) Fine Art programme, Guðný has created an outstanding body of work - marked by its ambitious use of non-conventional approaches to drawing and figuration.
Departing from an existing skill-set grounded in traditional methods of drawing and painting, Guðný has shown a fantastic work ethic, determination and courage in her taking on of a wide range of new approaches and processes in order to achieve a challenging synthesis of drawing, figure and installation. Her resulting large-scale figurative tableaux has been a unique achievement within both her developing practice and the wider context of the Fine Art programme.
Above: University of Cumbria Fine Art graduate Guðný Magnúsdóttir
Over the past decade, the university’s partnership with Derwent has provided invaluable support and opportunities for emerging artists, fostering a vibrant community of creativity and innovation.
Tracy Strong, manager of the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick, said: "It has been a pleasure to be involved with the Derwent Prize for Excellence over the last 10 years. The calibre of work created every year by so many talented artists continues to inspire future generations. We are proud to honour these exceptional artists who inspire us all with their dedication and vision. Congratulations to Guðný Magnúsdóttir on winning the Derwent Prize this year."
Derwent Prize recipient Guðný Magnúsdóttir said: "This means a lot. I have kids and family in Iceland. Finishing my BA degree, it has been a dream since I was a little girl and finally I've got all this way. I'm going to continue; I want to study more and finish my Master's also."
WATCH: University of Cumbria's 2025 Derwent Prize recipient Guðný Magnúsdóttir
Learn more about arts provision at the University of Cumbria here, at https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/study/academic-departments/institute-of-education-arts-and-society/
ENDS
Notes to editors
Artist Statement
Absence of the Soul is a deeply personal sculptural installation rooted in the artist’s own experiences of trauma and healing. Originating from a vision encountered during trauma therapy, the work serves both as a process of reflection and a way to relive and process the past. The artist describes it as a reconstruction of the self—layer by layer.
The installation features life-sized paper figures, each representing a distinct traumatic event. The body is portrayed as a fragile vessel for memory and pain, with surface marks revealing stories of illness, surrender, isolation, and rebirth. While the original vision presented identical white figures filling the space alongside a toilet filled with replicas of human bones, the artist chose to individualise each figure through posture, texture, and symbolic details—such as bruises, burns, or the removal of a breast—eschewing facial realism to focus on emotional essence.
Each sculpture narrates a specific moment: from an attacked figure defending herself, to one bearing the scars of cancer surgery; from a figure embodying surrender after trauma, to one illustrating isolation while striving to stay grounded. The final figure symbolizes healing and rebirth, floating above earthly remains, embodying purification and renewal.
Materials such as handmade cotton paper, wood glue, ash, and realistic bone replicas deepen the narrative. The work draws inspiration from artists like Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin, Berlinde de Bruyckere, Steinunn Þórarinsdóttir, and Antony Gormley. Absence of the Soul invites viewers into a sacred, intimate space, fostering empathy and dissolving boundaries between artist, artwork, and audience.
Main picture:
University of Cumbria fine art graduate and Derwent Prize for Excellence recipient Guðný Magnúsdóttir with (left) Catherine Coulson, museum supervisor, and (right) Tracy Strong, manager of the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick.