Glasgow-based artist Mary Lydon has been named the Emerging Scottish Artist of the Year by the Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation.
Lydon, a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, has gained attention for her fusion of painting, engraving and textiles.
Her pieces draw on her Ukrainian heritage, combining intricate embroidery and woven motifs with the imprints of everyday life – including patterns taken from city manhole covers.
The Fleming-Wyfold award, now in its second year, celebrates artists who combine material craftsmanship with contemporary sensibility. Judges praised Lydon’s “refined tactile language” and her ability to “weave migration, memory and belonging into modern Scottish art.”
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As part of the award, Lydon will present new work at Scotland House London later this year.
“I’m interested in the stories that live in texture and repetition,” Lydon said. “Whether it’s thread, print or metal, each mark carries memory – a quiet record of human touch.
“To be recognised this way is very significant for me. When I applied I thought maybe I will not get this because my work is heavily associated and inspired by Ukraine, I almost couldn’t believe it that I am being recognised as a Scottish artist.
“But Scotland has a long tradition of immigrant artists who are based here who have come from different cultures. It is a very special place for me.”
Lydon’s win highlights the diversity of Scotland’s emerging art scene, where artists continue to blur the lines between craft and concept, creating work that feels both personal and contemporary.
