Industry News

Tuesday 15 July 2025: Artichoke announces today five artists have been selected for BRILLIANT, the small-scale commissioning scheme organised by Lumiere and sponsored by EMG Solicitors, headquartered in Durham. BRILLIANT encourages anyone to submit a bright idea for art made using light.

Their artworks will be debuted as part of Lumiere, the UK light art biennial, produced by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council with additional support from Arts Council England, North East Combined Authority and a raft of additional funders and supporters, which will take place later this year over three nights, Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November 2025.

Selected from over 150 applicants, all five impressed the selection panel with their creative and unique ideas for artworks using light.

The successful creatives are:

Kevin Edworthy is a retired council officer, who came to Durham over 30 years ago, fell in love and never left. He is inspired by street photography and the people of Durham.

Lewis Hobson, also from County Durham, has a background in graffiti and mural art which informs his work with the local community.

Mani Kambo is a multi-disciplinary artist from Newcastle upon Tyne, whose work focuses on objects, routines and rituals distilled both from the everyday and mythology.

Leicester-based Mohamad Aaqib Anvarmia is a fine artist and sculptor whose work explores the intersection of Islamic art, geometry, and contemporary design.

Hannah Ayre from Edinburgh, has a multi-disciplinary practice, specialising in bringing art out of traditional settings and into accessible public spaces.

Kate Harvey, Artichoke Director of Projects says, “As always, the high standard of BRILLIANT applications meant that the selection process was very challenging. Our five selected artists presented ideas that use light to illustrate their passions, interests or personal experiences against the magical landscape of Durham, while also taking into consideration Artichoke’s aims to deliver a sustainable and environmentally-conscious event. Our producers will be working with the selected participants over the next few months, to help bring their creative ideas to life and giving them the chance to experience how a large-scale, free-to-attend event is put together.”

Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, says, “BRILLIANT has a great track record in giving new and emerging artists the opportunity to exhibit their work at a world-renowned event like Lumiere. It’s great to see two County Durham artists among the five, especially one of our former officers. This will be a particularly special moment for them and we look forward to celebrating their work and seeing it come to life during the festival.

“We also hope it provides inspiration for others to follow in their footsteps and share their own creative ideas. This commitment to providing a platform for the wider community demonstrates one of the many ways that we are the Culture County and we look forward to seeing these fabulous installations later in the year.”

EMG Solicitors returns as the sponsor of the BRILLIANT national commissioning scheme for the third time. EMG Solicitors is a growing firm headquartered in Durham that has supported Lumiere events since 2017.

Emma Gaudern, Managing Director of EMG Solicitors says, "EMG Solicitors is delighted to renew its support of Lumiere’s BRILLIANT commissioning scheme for 2025. As a company deeply rooted in Durham, and with strong values around supporting our local communities, we can’t wait to see Lumiere return to Durham City and shines a spotlight on the North East’s vibrant cultural scene, which we are thrilled to be a part of. We believe in the power of art and culture to inspire and unite communities, and as a local business, we are proud to play a part in making this happen.

The event is a huge asset to the North East, and we want to ensure that Lumiere continues to come to the city for the whole region to enjoy. Over the years we have witnessed the impact that it has on the local economy, and the excitement that it brings to the area. As a previous supporter of Lumiere, we know how wonderful it is to be a part of a network of likeminded businesses who want to champion cultural events in the North East, and demonstrate our commitment to social value.” 

BRILLIANT was launched in 2011 as a brand new commissioning strand for Lumiere, to offer opportunities for artists and non-artists alike to develop and produce their ideas for artworks using the medium of light to be showcased at the festival. Since then, the scheme has fostered creative talent in the North East, providing a platform over the years for emerging artists and non-practitioners to share their best creative ideas.

Previous BRILLIANT participants, some of whom had never before practiced as an artist, have gone on to develop artistic careers. Mick Stephenson, a Durham-based builder, was selected initially in 2011 and went on to exhibit at Lumiere festivals in Durham and London, before becoming a full-time artist. Beth J Ross had been a teacher in Durham when she was selected in 2015, to make three neon signs in her five year old's handwriting, responding to an 11th century text found in Durham Cathedral. Her work has since been recognised through several public commissions; she was co-artist in residence at Cresswell Pele Tower in Northumberland for the year 2023-2024, and a member of the Advisory Group for Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA). Chris Plant was part of the 2017 BRILLIANT cohort, and has gone onto exhibit artworks as part of Coventry City of Culture 2021, Wigan Light Night 2022, Norwich LoveLight 2022, and Baylight festival, Morecombe 2023.

The five BRILLIANT creatives in the 2025 cohort will spend the time from now until Lumiere in November, developing their pieces, adapting their designs to fit available locations and physically testing and creating their ideas, working closely with Artichoke’s technical experts. Precise details about each lightwork will be kept tightly under wraps until the full Lumiere programme is revealed in September.

To be the first to know what’s happening, sign up to the newsletter at the event website, Lumiere-festival.com.

Lumiere Durham is a central pillar of The Culture County, the long-term creative regeneration strategy born out of the Durham 2025 UK City of Culture campaign.