NEW VISUALITY
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HEWORTH WITHOUT
THE ART OF REMEMBERING JESSICA CHRISTMAS / THE INAUGURAL KEITH THOMPSON YOUNG ARTIST PRIZE A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2026
NEW VISUALITY / HEWORTH WITHOUT
THE FIRST WINNER
A NEW CHAPTER
Meet Jessica Christmas Creativity, dedication and a healthy sense of mischief.
New Visuality is delighted to announce Jessica Christmas as the first recipient of the Keith Thompson Young Artist Prize. A pupil at Archbishop Holgate’s School and a young art advocate for New Visuality’s award-winning Art Camp, Jessica was chosen for her sensitive creativity, hard work, enthusiasm for reading and the playful spirit that marked Keith’s own life.
The inaugural prize was judged by Greg McGee and Cllr Nigel Ayre, celebrating a young artist from Heworth Without and the value of creativity within the community.
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JESSICA ARTWORK
PORTFOLIO / 01
Art without boundaries
01 / DECORATED HAND
A remarkable catalogue of symbols, patterns, eyes, flowers and playful faces. The drawing rewards close looking and reveals both patience and humour.
Jessica moves confidently between intricate observation and freely imagined imagery.
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JESSICA ARTWORK
PORTFOLIO / 02
Journeys of the imagination
02 / A LANDSCAPE IN MOTION. A railway track draws the eye into a small landscape surrounded by sweeping marks and colour. An inventive mix of perspective, place and abstraction.
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JESSICA ARTWORK
PORTFOLIO / 03
A distinctive creative voice
03 / PORTRAIT & BOTANICAL COLLAGE. Pencil shading meets vivid photographic textures in an expressive profile.
04 / MUSIC & NATURE. A radiant sun, floating musical notes and organic forms create a dreamlike visual world.
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REMEMBERING KEITH
KEITH ANTHONY THOMPSON / 1945-2026
The gentle giant
A FAMILIAR FACE
Keith Anthony Thompson was born on 15 May 1945 and died on 5 May 2026. A retired police officer, husband, father and grandad, he was affectionately known as Tommo, PC Plod, King of the Cops and the Gentle Giant. He and his wife Rosemary helped make Christ Church, Stockton Lane, a place of genuine welcome - including for New Visuality’s visiting young artists. The celebration of Keith’s life took place at Christ Church on 21 May 2026. Its family recollections paint the portrait of a deeply loved man.
“He had a heart to match his stature.” - From the tributes gathered in Keith’s order of service
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STORIES AND MEMORIES
FROM THE FAMILY PROGRAMME
Mischief, kindness and a good laugh
THE STAR TREK EPISODE
Family remembered Keith watching Star Trek as Rosemary went into labour with their twins - and thankfully making it to the birth. THE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
Even during his final illness, Keith reportedly joked about the way he was being fed chocolate mousse. A STOP FOR EVERYONE
Trips around York often took longer than planned because so many people stopped him for a chat. AN EXTRA CAKE
His fondness for cakes and biscuits was often followed by the mischievous appeal: “don’t tell the wife”.
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THE LIFE BEHIND THE PRIZE
FAMILY / FAITH / FRIENDSHIP
A life shared with others
Rosemary, their sons Graham and Steve, and granddaughters Penny and Iona were at the heart of Keith’s world. Friday outings with his grandchildren, holidays in the Lake District and time spent at Christ Church are all lovingly recalled in the funeral programme. Friends remembered someone who welcomed everybody. One tribute described him as a father figure; another observed that no one could fill his size 15 shoes.
For New Visuality, this spirit of welcome is the link between Keith’s legacy and the young artists now helping to tell his story.
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THE PRIZE AND THE COMMUNITY
WORDS FROM CLLR NIGEL AYRE
A fitting first recipient “Jessica is a fantastic choice to be the first recipient of the Keith Thompson Art Prize. She is a talented young artist and it is particularly special to see someone from Heworth Without receive the very first award in Keith’s name. Keith was such a warm and welcoming member of our community who took a genuine interest in young people. I hope this prize will become a lasting part of Heworth Without and a fitting way to keep his memory and his commitment to bringing people together alive. I’m delighted that ward committee funding has helped support this project and I’d like to congratulate Jessica on being the inaugural winner. I hope she is very proud of this achievement.”
CLLR NIGEL AYRE • HEWORTH WITHOUT
Cllr Ayre introduced New Visuality to Keith and Christ Church, helping establish the relationships behind the intergenerational arts project. The award is supported by City of York Council’s Heworth Without ward committee funding.
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THE NEXT GENERATION
Art has a way of keeping stories alive. The Keith Thompson Young Artist Prize celebrates imagination, commitment, generosity and the joy of bringing people together. Congratulations to Jessica Christmas, its first winner.
NEW VISUALITY • HEWORTH WITHOUT • YORK
With thanks to Keith’s family, Christ Church and Cllr Nigel Ayre. Original artworks: Jessica Christmas | Keith family photographs: funeral programme