Frank Kerslake Award Winner: Betül's Story

At our annual learner art exhibition, ‘We Present: Leicester Adult Education’, we were honoured to present the Frank Kerslake Award for the second year. The award was created in memory of Frank Kerslake, a much-loved member of our learner community who sadly passed away.

Frank was not only a talented artist, but also someone who helped create a warm and supportive learning environment for those around him. His passion for creativity, kindness and encouragement left a lasting impression on both learners and tutors. The Frank Kerslake Award was established to celebrate learners who embody these same qualities.

Learn more about Frank

This year’s award was presented to Betül for her beautiful piece, ‘Experiencing Time’, created during her Drawings into Paintings course. The charcoal portrait was a particularly special achievement, as it was Betül’s first time creating a portrait.

Betül’s artwork was inspired by a photograph of an elderly man, whose expression captured a lifetime of experiences. She was drawn to the emotion behind the portrait:

“The expression on his face made it clear that he had lived through every stage of life and experienced both its joys and its hardships.”

The judges were notably impressed by the feeling and depth captured in the portrait, describing it as “beautifully executed”. They praised the way Betül conveyed emotion through her use of charcoal, creating a piece that felt powerful.

The achievement was even more remarkable considering this was Betül’s first time working with charcoal. She was surprised by the level of detail she was able to achieve with the medium:

“I was amazed by how much detail I was able to achieve with this medium. Although it is not an exact copy of the original photograph, I added my own interpretation, which resulted in a completely unique portrait. Creating something so personal and original was incredibly satisfying.”

Winning the Frank Kerslake Award was a truly memorable moment for Betül. Having her artwork displayed in a public art gallery was a proud milestone in her creative journey.

“Receiving this recognition felt surreal. It was a truly proud moment in my life and one that I will always remember. When my name was announced, I had to think twice because I couldn't believe it was really me. It was such a wonderful and unexpected surprise.”



As well as celebrating this incredible piece of art, we were delighted to learn more about Betül’s journey and the impact her time on our courses has had.

For Betül, the art courses have been about much more than developing artistic skills.

“To me, these courses provide a safe space where I can relax, express myself freely, and leave my worries behind. They allow me to clear my mind, which has had a positive impact on my mental wellbeing. I also feel that they have helped reveal a creative side of myself that had been hidden for many years. These courses have greatly improved my self-confidence and made me realise that I am capable of creating unique and meaningful artwork.

As part of her progress, Betül values the support from her tutors.

“They encouraged me to explore different techniques and develop my own artistic perspective. Throughout the journey, I always felt supported and encouraged.”

A key part of Betül’s experience has been the sense of community she has found through her course, including forming new friendships and gaining inspiration from other learners. The supportive environment has also been very meaningful as Betül has adapted to life in the UK.

“This course has helped me enormously during my journey of adapting to life in the UK. Everyone made me feel genuinely welcome, and I am truly grateful to have been part of such a supportive and inspiring community.”

Looking ahead, Betül hopes to continue developing her creative skills and exploring new artistic opportunities, including to turn her passion in a business focused in pottery, ceramics and painting.

We’re so proud of Betül, from her time on the courses to winning the award, she really does reflect the values of the award. We wish her all the best!

If you've been inspired by Betül, why not explore our Drawing, Painting and Printing courses?

Explore our Drawing, Painting and Printing Courses