This week is the last week of the En Plein Air competition exhibition at the Rye Art Gallery which continues until Sunday, September 28.
Painters from all over the country and beyond have submitted over 300 paintings, the largest amount ever shown at the gallery. Over the last couple of weeks, the judges, Nick Archer, last year’s winner Clare Mitchell, Karl Terry, Louise Simkiss-Day and Tom Marsh have been in the gallery and, with over 300 paintings to judge, it was a difficult task to choose the three winners and runners up. However, on Tuesday, September 16 the winners were announced.
The first prize went to Georgina Allen who won £1000 donated by the Kowitz Family Foundation. Natasha Cooke won the second prize of £500 and Tobit Roche won a third prize of £250 both donated by Heringtons Solicitors.
The judges had six criteria to judge the work by: composition, colour, atmosphere, craftsmanship and skill, creativity, and impact. They loved the detail and subtle use of colour in Georgina's painting, Hampshire Spring 2 (the feature image above).
Second prize winner Natasha Cook's painting, Dark Skies and Yellow Fields, scored highly for her use of colour and mark making with the use of thick paint and indented lines giving impact and atmosphere.
The judges were impressed with the striking simplicity of Tobit Roche's Evening on East Hill and his use of colour, to capture a sense of place.
The scores between third and fourth place were so close that the judges decided to award a fourth place prize - to Rosie Woods for her painting Llyn Padarn, Snowdonia.
The runners up have yet to be announced. There will be a presentation ceremony to the winners on September 28 starting at 2pm with awards given at 3pm.
The exhibition and competition has been a huge success and will take place again next year with added prizes for young artists.
