Championing Creativity and MND Care

We were thrilled to chat with Caite Healy, Trustee of the Alan Davidson Foundation, a charity that brings together two powerful passions: supporting cutting-edge research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and championing creativity in the arts and architecture. The Foundation carries forward the inspiring legacy of Alan Davidson - architect, artist, innovator, and adventurer - whose belief in the power of art and design continues to shape their work today. We are especially grateful to the Foundation for their ongoing support of the John Ruskin Prize, supporting emerging young artists through the Alan Davidson Under 26 Award.

In this interview, Caite shares more about the Foundation's mission, Alan's remarkable life and work and enduring influence, and why supporting young creatives and celebrating the art of observation remain at the heart of their work.

For those unfamiliar with the Alan Davidson Foundation, can you tell us about the charity’s core mission and the types of work you support?

"Our core mission is to support MND care and research initiatives, including drug trials, PhD research bursary/sponsorship, nursing care provision for patients with MND. We also support social advocacy for patients and families living with MND. In addition we support the Arts and in particular Architecture. This includes The Davidson Prize, an high profile Architecture ideas competition surrounding ‘the home’, a playwriting bursary to encourage new writing for the theatre, architecture scholarships and The Big Draw."

Alan Davidson led a remarkable life as an architect, artist, innovator and adventurer! Could you tell us more about his life and work? How would you describe the legacy he wanted to leave behind?

"Alan Davidson, trained in architecture and Fine Art in Edinburgh, was a gifted polymath with an insatiable curiosity for technology and science. A natural illustrator and talented guitarist, his early career took him to Fiji and Australia, where he immediately recognised the transformative potential of emerging technology in architecture during the 1980s. He leveraged his diverse skills to establish Hayes Davidson, a company specialising in computer visualisation imaging of architectural drawings. Hayes Davidson gained significant recognition in the architectural field, leading to projects that included animations and films, bringing stunning images of buildings and development plans to life.

"Sadly, Alan was diagnosed with MND in 2012, though symptoms had begun a few years prior. A meticulous planner, he confronted his diagnosis and began envisioning his legacy. He meticulously crafted a succession roadmap for Hayes Davidson and established an Employee Ownership Trust (now a decade old!) to safeguard the company for the benefit of his colleagues. Furthermore, he founded the Alan Davidson Foundation, a grant-giving charity dedicated to supporting MND research, architecture, and the arts."

Image: Caite Healy and Alan Davidson.

The Foundation champions architecture and the arts as vital forces for creativity, wellbeing, and social impact. What draws you to these particular areas?

"Alan was deeply committed to several core passions throughout his life. He found homelessness abhorrent and was a passionate advocate for Article 25. The arts, both visual and performing, consistently uplifted his spirit, providing essential purpose to his life. We shared a profound understanding of these things, and his vision was a source of great inspiration to me. I remain fully dedicated to continuing these endeavours, as they consistently bring about positive change in the lives of many.

"Aware of the gifts he had been given, Alan utilised them to enrich the world and to be mindful and compassionate towards those less fortunate than himself."

Alan had the ability to think and draw in 3D - do you think that creative skill is something we need to champion more in education and practice?

"Absolutely! I am convinced that integrating art into the daily lives of all individuals cultivates a better world. Beginning in the early 2000s, Alan dedicated space in the Studio at HD for regular classes in drawing, art appreciation, and discussions encompassing film and theatre. These activities collectively aimed to broaden the studio's perspective towards a grander and more beautiful world. Alan recognised that many young CGI designers lacked drawing experience from their educational backgrounds, and he sought to introduce this important skill into their lives."

Image: Marie Chamillard, Director of the Alan Davidson Foundation, awarding the Alan Davidson Under 26 Prize at the 7th John Ruskin Prize. Photo credit: @brandonfew

We’re so grateful to have the support of the Alan Davidson Foundation for another year of the John Ruskin Prize, now in its eighth edition. Why did you choose to support this particular open submission exhibition, and what makes it a good fit for the Foundation’s mission?

"Alan was really passionate about supporting emerging young artists and nurturing talent. He truly believed it was his duty to help and was privileged to be part of an artist’s journey. The natural synergy between the John Ruskin Prize and Alan’s legacy made our decision very easy."

The Alan Davidson Under 26 Award champions emerging artists as part of the Ruskin Prize. Why is supporting young creatives important to you, and what do you hope this award offers them?

"Central to Alan Davidson's vision for his company, Hayes Davidson, was the support of young creatives. By continuing this mission, the Foundation advances Alan's legacy. We hope the Award not only provides financial recognition but also serves as a platform to showcase the participants' and winners' talent and art."

Image: Alice Goehrs, '120 m² de geste dans le vaste (120 m² of gesture in the vastness)', video [screenshots]. Winner of the Alan Davidson Under 26 Prize at the 7th John Ruskin Prize.

The theme for the 8th John Ruskin Prize is ‘Patience in Looking, Truth in Making’, exploring the journey from what we see to what we make. What does this theme mean to you?

"I believe that true appreciation of the beauty around us requires intentional observation and presence. This means taking the time to notice everything, from the subtle shifts in the changing seasons—like the swallows gathering this week for their journey back to Southern Africa—to simply being in the moment. Such attentiveness demands both patience and presence."

John Ruskin believed that drawing was not just an artistic skill, but a vital way of observing and understanding the world around us. How does this resonate with the Foundation’s ethos, and with Alan’s own approach to design?

"Alan drew everything from funny cartoons to the inner workings of his mind! We would joke that when we wanted him to rest we would have to take his pen away. At a restaurant, we would find napkins where he had caricatured everyone round the table - we all wish we had collected these. These vivid memories of Alan—his uncanny ability to instantly translate observations of buildings or objects onto paper, whether to refine a design or simply to commit an image to memory—continue to inspire all of us on the Foundation's team and trustees. His perceptive genius has truly altered how we see the world, and the Foundation strives to uphold and embody this same appreciation for design."

Image: The 7th John Ruskin Prize Exhibition, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London. Photo credit: @brandonfew

What’s next for the Foundation? Is there anything coming up that you’re particularly excited about?

"We are enthusiastic about all the projects in which we invest Alan's funds. However, the Longitude Prize on ALS (MND) particularly aligns with our focus on technological innovation, which we believe is key to discovering a cure for this devastating disease."

Thank you, Caite!