Jessica Elleray and Robyn Nichol received the annual Dean’s Prize for Fine Art.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Professor Simon Guy selected the two winners from the exhibits in this year’s show, entitled ‘53 More Things to do in Zero Gravity’ and which ended this week.

The winners were announced at the campus show opening by Professor Judith Mottram, the new Director of Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts at Lancaster University.

She said the innovative and ‘of their time’ winning exhibits would be included as part of the Faculty collection.

Jessica, who co-chaired the show committee, exhibited her Yuaning Yuan collection in the show – a striking collection of white sculpted animal heads representing the Zodiac Busts looted from Yuaning Yuan during the Second Opium War by British and French troops.

She said: “I’m overwhelmed and certainly did not expect this.  I have really enjoyed being at Lancaster University. It’s challenging and it really stretches you in a positive way.”

Robyn’s political textiles, made into dresses and wall-hangings, focused on the themes of heritage, identity, locality and industry from her Yorkshire roots.

“I’m in shock,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be chosen for this prize. It means such a lot to me because my work is about my family. It’s a great way to end three years at Lancaster.”

This exhibition, which showcased the work of final year BA Fine Art students, was a celebration of three years of making, thinking, sharing and learning.

The exhibition presented a diverse range of creative approaches, including contemporary drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, new media and public encounters.