A University of Ulster student has played an important role in honouring the memory of the late painter and political cartoonist, Rowel Friers. 

Rebecca Hume, a second-year Silversmithing and Jewellery student, was selected by the Royal Ulster Academy (RUA) to design and create a prestigious award to be presented annually to the best drawing entry of the RUA annual exhibition.  

The first ever Rowel Friers Drawing Award was bestowed on artist Michael Wann at a presentation ceremony marking the opening of the RUA exhibition in Belfast last week. 

Rebecca designed and made the silver perpetual trophy which she says was inspired by ‘an artist’s work board’ as well as an additional keepsake in the form of a silver pin. 

“I am delighted to have earned the opportunity to create such a prestigious award,” said Rebecca, who is from Jordanstown. 

“As Rowel Friers was such an eminent and respected painter and cartoonist I took the artist’s work board as my main inspiration for the piece. The award is sponsored by Bewley’s so I incorporated a little silver coffee cup, and based on the spur at the end of Rowel Friers signature I designed a pin for the winner to keep as a souvenir of their success.” 

Rebecca was also presented with prize money of £4,000 after fighting off stiff competition to be selected as the winner of the design competition to create the trophy.  

Silversmithing and Jewellery lecturer, Cara Murphy added: “This was a fantastic commission for the University of Ulster to have been involved with. It was a tremendous achievement for Rebecca and the award created reflects the high calibre of the work produced by our students in the School of Art and Design.”