Winning Medal joins Founders’ Collection

The Founders’ Charities continue their long-standing support for the British Art Medal Society’s Student Medal Project through sponsorship of the annual grand first prize. This initiative encourages emerging talent in the field of medallic art, and the charity is pleased to contribute to its continued success.

This year’s Grand First Prize for overall excellence was awarded to Imogen Kate Phillips for her medal Make Way for the Swaledale. The piece reflects the natural beauty and freedom of the North Yorkshire Moors, near the artist’s home. The design features the face of a Swaledale sheep and a gated scene, symbolising the sheep’s right to roam and control movement on the land—contrasting with urban environments where humans dominate the space. The title highlights this inversion, presenting the sheep as the pedestrians of the moors.

Imogen’s work, which often focuses on animals and nature, was created using wax carving and hand fabrication techniques. The engraved textures on the medal include elements referencing sheep wool and dry-stone walling.

Although the prize was presented earlier in the year, the Worshipful Company of Founders has now received a copy of the medal for its collection, continuing a tradition of supporting both the making and preservation of these works. The medal will be added to the Founders’ Collection of Grand First Prize medals, marking the Company’s ongoing commitment to the decorative arts and emerging talent.

The medal appears in the British Art Medal Society Student Medal Project XXXII 2025 publication, on pages 2 and 21.