WITH more than 200 entries to the Tenby Arts Festival Open Art Competition this year, the judges had their work cut out to select those pictures that would hang in the exhibition and those that would receive the prizes.
"We couldn't be more pleased," said Margaret Welsh of Art Matters who organised the competition for the second time this year. "We doubled the first prize to attract more entries, and introduced a learners prize so that those who had started painting only recently would also be encouraged to take part. As a result, the exhibition includes the work of professional artists of considerable reputation alongside quality work by up and coming artists and the price range from £35 to £1,600 reflects this."
Judges Arthur Lewis, Naomi Tydeman, Marion Hutton and Tom Learmonth gave their time freely, and the organisers would like to thank them for their considered approach. They did not always agree regarding the fine points of some of the highly regarded entries but came to a consensus following lengthy discussions. The prizes were awarded at an exhibition opening evening on Friday, September 20 attended by hundreds of people. The winners were as follows:
The First Prize was awarded to Martyn Vaughan Jones of Llanybri, Carmarthenshire. He received a cheque for £500 for his acrylic painting entitled 'Hill Farm.'
The Emrys Prize was awarded to Dorothy Morris of Ferryside, Carmarthenshire for her batik picture entitled 'Blue bay 2.' She received an easel donated by Emrys Art Supplies.
The Oil/Acrylic Prize was awarded to Leonard Beard of Goodwick, Pembrokeshire for his painting entitled 'Of coast, sea and sky...' He received an oil painting case donated by Sennelier.
The Watercolour Prize was awarded to Ceredigion artist David Beattie for his painting entitled 'Ceiriog.' He received a 'Jubilee' watercolour set donated by Winsor and Newton.
The Pastel Prize was awarded to Jean Thomas, of Llanelli for her picture entitled 'Still life with hydrangeas.' She received a pastel box donated by Daler Rowney.
The Learners Prize was awarded, in her absence, to Jo Tasker, of Tenby for her picture 'Boats in the Sluice, Tenby.' She will enjoy five workshops of her choice at Art Matters this winter.
A second leaners prize has been awarded to Nigel DuFresnoy, of Pembroke who receives a landscape set of Unison Pastels for his picture 'Early Light, Stackpole.'
The People's Prize, a large box of studio pencils from Derwent, the Cumberland Pencil Co., awaits the artist who receives the most votes from exhibition visitors, so pop along to Art Matters and see what you think.
The prize winners paintings, alongside 128 other worthy entries are on show at Art matters in Tenby until October 10. Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 2 pm to 5 pm. Further information from Art Matters. Telephone 01834 843375.