The Women's Honour Award

In Summer 2018, artist Sarah Taylor Silverwood invited people from the six towns of Sandwell to nominate women who deserve to be honoured and celebrated. The nominated women have many things in common: they go above and beyond; they often work behind the scenes; they are strong supporters of families and communities; and some are volunteers or carers. Ultimately, they are incredible women who deserve to be honoured and celebrated.

Three winners were selected by the judging panel to have their portrait drawn by Sarah Taylor Silverwood. Our judging panel included: Julie McKirdy, senior librarian at Thimblemill Library; Councillor Syeda Khatun, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member of Sandwell Council; and Tina Cockbill who works at the much loved Nod’s Café in West Bromwich. The resulting portraits are a collaboration between Sarah and the winners. She spoke with them about location, objects and composition of their portrait to find a way to communicate their stories through the image.

Exhibition: A bespoke wooden plaque featuring all 54 names of the women who were nominated and the portraits toured to Civic buildings (West Bromwich Town Hall, Smethwick Council House, Wednesbury Town Hall and Oldbury Council House) during 2019.

“The Women’s Honour Award celebrates women. A lot of the work that women do is behind the scenes, often unpaid and not rewarded. Many images and paintings we see in public spaces have historically represented a mainly male, privileged voice. I want to create portraits that change the narrative we have seen throughout history by celebrating and honouring women.”

- Sarah Taylor Silverwood