In the lead-up to our new exhibition next weekend, 17th October, we spoke to Abby Skinner, this year’s Women in Art Prize winner!
Discover more about Abby’s practice, her experience of winning the prize, and what this opportunity means for her as an artist...
How did it feel hearing your name announced as the overall winner of the Women in Art Prize? Can you take us back to that moment?
"I went into the award ceremony at the British Library feeling incredibly grateful just to be a finalist. When my mum and boyfriend asked if I’d prepared a speech, I laughed it off. Seeing the calibre of the other artists, I was certain I wouldn't need one. The only thing I was anxious about was socialising!
My mum flew over from Cyprus to be there. She held my hand the entire evening, giving it three quick squeezes every so often, her secret way of saying "I love you" since I was little. It has been a tough year after losing my dad, so sharing in such a beautiful, uplifting occasion together felt like a gift.
When we came to the last announcement of the evening, the winner of the Painting category, my heart raced. Then, I heard my name. My family gasped, and my boyfriend, seeing the sheer panic on my face, whispered, “Just say thank you, you’ll be fine.” I walked up to the stage and managed to hold it together just enough to express how vital it is to cherish the people who "fan the flames" of your work.
In the beautiful blur of the evening, I didn't actually realise I had won the overall prize alongside my category until a few days later. My mum had just left for the airport, and I was alone at home. The magnitude of it suddenly hit me, and I cried. I thought
about my dad and how intensely proud he would be. It’s a surreal, mind-blowing honour, and a moment I will never forget."
Can you tell us a little about the work that won the Prize and the story or inspiration behind it?
"Winning is incredible, but the real victory is the platform it gives the story behind the artwork. Vigil is an allegorical portrait of women's rights activist Patsy Stevenson, reimagining the viral photograph of her arrest by the Metropolitan Police at the 2021 Clapham Common vigil for Sarah Everard.
Patsy's brutal public arrest was a painful event within the already tragic circumstances of Sarah’s death. Both women were ultimately failed by the very institution meant to protect them, and that photograph stayed with me. But I knew I didn’t want the painting to simply reinforce a disempowering narrative. I wanted to ask: what happens when we take an image of injustice and reclaim it?
Vigil honours Sarah’s memory and Patsy's campaigning for women. At its core, it is an act of psychological reclamation. For Sarah, for Patsy, and for any woman who has been silenced or let down.
My focus was on empowerment: taking that vulnerability from the photograph and turning it into unyielding and undeniable strength."
What first encouraged you to enter the Women in Art Prize, and what made you decide to put your work forward?
"Gemma Peppé invited me to take part in an Art on a Postcard International Women’s Day auction, which is where I met Jayne from ArtVox London. She asked to do a short video interview about my work, and we instantly clicked. She is so generous, with a genuine mission to support artists, and she strongly encouraged me to enter.
It can be isolating to remain true to your artistic voice, especially when tackling difficult subjects. A community that actively champions women who are making work that challenges and pushes boundaries feels incredibly aligned. Women in Art are transforming a narrative and empowering women. That is exactly why I felt Vigil belonged in that brave, unapologetic space."
The Women in Art Prize is about celebrating and championing women artists. What does that mission mean to you personally, and why do you think initiatives like this are important?
"Historically, women have been vastly underrepresented as creators in the art world, while our bodies have constantly been utilised as its subjects. Initiatives like this are vital to actively correct that imbalance.
It takes immense courage to put yourself out there as a woman, and as a female artist. We are constantly pushing against lingering societal norms, whether it's the pressure not to be "difficult", the expectation to quietly make things easier for everyone else, or the assumption that our ambitions should come second. Seeing a room full of bold, diverse, wildly talented women creating meaningful work and sculpting their own magical lives is incredibly inspiring. A community like Women in Art reminds us that when we need the fortitude to remain true to ourselves, we aren't alone."
What does winning the Women in Art Prize mean to you at this point in your artistic journey?
"It is a key. Being an artist requires an exhausting amount of blind faith, and losing my dad, my biggest believer, has left an immeasurable void. But receiving this award feels like all of that persistence, sacrifice, and grit has culminated in this beautiful milestone. It provides the ultimate validation needed to unlock the next chapter. A week-long artist retreat in Morocco with Rosso Emerald Crimson (the first winner of the prize) is also an exciting opportunity to learn and be inspired.
Above all, it reinforces my trust in the quiet alchemy of art. We can't always fix what is broken or painful in the world, but art gives us the possibility to tell the story on our own terms."
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