Award-winning artist, Grayson Perry CBE received his City Lit Lifetime Fellowship Award during an entertaining evening at The National Gallery as part of this year’s Mental Wealth Festival.
Grayson was joined on stage by City Lit Principal Mark Malcomson; with the pair enjoying a lively discussion about art and how it contributes to our positive wellbeing. He also talked about his career as one of Britain’s most famous (and colourful) contemporary artists.
Grayson works in a variety of media, including embroidery and photography, yet he is best known for his ceramic works: classically shaped vases covered with figures, patterns and text. Grayson was born in Chelmsford in 1960 and went onto study at Braintree College of Further Education and at Portsmouth Polytechnic. In 2003, he became famous as the first ceramic artist to win the Turner Prize and was awarded a CBE in 2014.
Grayson received his City Lit Lifetime Fellowship Award from his former ceramics tutor Kate Wickham. City Lit Fellowships are awarded to individuals who have shown a significant commitment to adult education in the United Kingdom and who have provided support and inspiration to City Lit and our students. Other City Lit Fellows include prominent politicians Nick Boles MP, David Lammy MP and Sir Vince Cable, BAFTA award-winning actress Gillian Anderson and comedian, actress and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax OBE.
Photos by Dominic Harris
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