THE first Tenby Arts Festival Open Art competition has been hailed as a great success.

More than 100 pictures were submitted by artists from across the Dyfed area and the standard of the work was so high that the judges had their work cut out to choose those that would hang in the exhibition and then those that would be awarded prizes.

First prize was awarded to Ronda Thomas, of Pembroke for her picture painted in acrylic on tissue paper entitled 'Kitchen Corner'.

She receives a cheque for £250 which was funded by competitors entry fees.

Second prize, an easel kindly donated by Emrys Art Supplies, of Carmarthen and Haverfordwest, was awarded to Kath Llewellyn, of Whitemill, Carmarthen for her untitled picture of a latch and key in oils.

Frank Goddard, of Llanelli took the third prize, a voucher for £50 generously donated by Clarice Art Supplies, of Tenby, for his textured mixed media picture.

The watercolour prize was awarded to John Bates, of Llansaint, Carmarthen for his intriguing picture entitled 'Butterfly'. John received a watercolour stretcher board donated by Ken Bromley Art Supplies, of Bolton.

The exhibition continues until October 11 at Art Matters, South Parade, Tenby.

A further prize has yet to be awarded and you can help decide who will win it.

A large box of pastel pencils, with a retail price of nearly £100 has been donated by Derwent, the Cumberland Pencil Company, for the picture that receives the most votes by visitors to the exhibition which is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.

Following the success of this event this year, it is hoped that this will become a regular feature of the Arts Festival in Tenby.