Celebrating Our Highly Commended Artists – 2025 “Celebrating Our Strength in Our Diversity” Exhibition

As the 2025 edition of Celebrating Our Strength in Our Diversity draws to a close, we are proud to shine a special spotlight on the artists whose works have been Highly Commended by this year.

Each of these artists has created a piece that speaks powerfully to the theme of diversity — exploring identity, resilience, belonging, and the shared experiences that unite us across borders, backgrounds, and beliefs. Their works remind us that art is not just a form of expression, but a bridge that connects the many walks of life that make up our human story.

Susan Williams – All Walks of Life (detail)

From Kettering, Northamptonshire, Susan Williams presents a thought-provoking installation of shoes scattered across a grassy field. Each pair tells a silent story, symbolising the many paths people take through life — different yet equal in their shared humanity.

Greg Williamson – Lost Youths

Greg Williamson, based in Glossop, delivers a deeply emotive portrayal of disillusioned young faces, their haunting gazes capturing the fragility of lost potential. His work reminds us of the social responsibility we share towards young people navigating an increasingly complex world.

Anna Li – Reconstruction of Beauty

Anna Li from Nottingham explores body, identity, and self-perception in a sensitive and striking painting. Through her layered textures and confident brushwork, she questions conventional ideals of beauty and celebrates the courage of self-acceptance.

MUSI – Share Mission

With incredible precision and empathy, MUSI captures a moment of mutual strength between two women — one with a prosthetic leg, the other extending her hand. This powerful image from the United Kingdom celebrates solidarity, inclusion, and empowerment through shared humanity.

Terry Gregoraschuk – Sleep With One Eye Open And Do Not Speak Of It

From Calgary, Canada, Terry Gregoraschuk’s haunting painting evokes the silence and fear endured by those who have suffered trauma. The dark tones and restrained palette powerfully convey both pain and resilience, challenging viewers to confront what is often left unsaid.

Yuliia Tarnovska – Spin Cycle Chaos

In a burst of colour and movement, Yuliia Tarnovska from Maidenhead presents a lively yet unsettling scene in a laundrette. Beneath the humour and chaos lies a commentary on modern life — its cycles of repetition and the absurdities of daily struggle.

Yiyi Song – Soft Unfolding

London-based ceramic artist Yiyi Song brings a sense of tenderness and organic growth to her sculptural work. Her piece Soft Unfolding embodies nature’s quiet elegance, reflecting the beauty of vulnerability and transformation.

Sarah Christie – The Womb of Man

Sarah Christie from Warminster challenges societal perceptions of gender and creation through this bold, surreal work. The juxtaposition of traditional masculinity and the female reproductive system provokes dialogue about identity, equality, and the shared origins of humanity.

Karen Piddington – Working Classness

From Brighton, Karen Piddington’s raw, stitched portrait captures the intersection of fragility and strength in working-class identity. Her use of embroidery over watercolour brings a tactile intimacy that speaks directly to resilience and lived experience.

Yuhan Chen – The Disappearance of My Mother

London-based artist Yuhan Chen’s subtle and melancholic work explores themes of memory, absence, and maternal bonds. Through the placement of familiar domestic objects, Chen constructs a quiet yet powerful meditation on loss and identity.

A Celebration of Global Voices

Together, these highly commended works remind us why Celebrating Our Strength in Our Diversity remains one of the most important exhibitions of our time. Each artist brings their truth, culture, and creativity to the conversation — proving that diversity is not just something we acknowledge, but something we celebrate.

We congratulate all the artists recognised this year, and extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part, voted, and supported this inspiring global exhibition.

Visit www.doncasterartfair.com to explore the full exhibition before it closes on 15th November 2025