With more than double the expected entries for the fourth Open Art Competition at Art Matters in Tenby, the entire gallery was needed to show the exhibition of selected and prize-winning work. Paintings of all shapes and sizes, in all media, started to arrive throughout the handing in week, in time for the judging last Monday, February 28. Of the four judges, Naomi Tydeman, Arthur Lewis and Paul Woodford, are all professional artists, and the fourth, Tom Learmonth, is a photographer and art shop proprietor, as well as being a major sponsor for the competition. "It was an enjoyably difficult task to look at such a variety of work in succession in order to rank them, before getting on the serious and prolonged discussions of the finer points of the potential prize winning pieces," said Tom. The first prize of £500 was awarded to Gareth Thomas, of Llangennith, Swansea, for his painting 'Autumn, valley near Valreas', while the second prize of an easel donated by Emrys Art Supplies was presented to Philippa Sibert, of Llangrannog, for her abstract landscapes. Third prize of a £100 voucher for Daler-Rowney materials was awarded to Sean Phillips, of Stepaside, for his painting 'Seated Nude'. The Landscape Prize, sponsored by Gareth Roberts, of Pembrokeshire Art and Framing, was awarded to Pembrokeshire artist Cadog Picton for his 'Rocks and Sea', and the Learner's Prize was awarded to Helen Stoddart, of Merlin's Bridge, Haverfordwest, for her painting 'Carn Meini'. She won £100 voucher for Winsor and Newton art materials. The exhibition of selected and prize-winning work continues until Good Friday, March 25, and visitors are invited to cast their votes for their favourite painting to win the Derwent People's Prize, consisting of a wooden presentation box of 120 artist pencils, which will be awarded at the end of the exhibition to the artist who receives the most votes. The gallery in South Parade is now open every day, except Wednesday, from 10 am to 5 pm.