2023 Winners

The March-April theme of “NIGHT SCENE” attracted 15 entries and there was a tie for first place. The joint winners were Sharron Ayerst and Geoff Sully – click on each image to view full screen.

Sharron Ayerst
NIGHT OWL
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 20 inches
Geoff Sully
WALKING THE DOG
Acrylic
20 x 16 inches

The first (January – February) Challenge of 2023 was “USING JUST 2 COMPLEMENTARY COLOURS”. There was a completely free choice of subject, but a requirement to use just 2 colours from opposite sides of the colour wheel (use of white was also allowed if not using watercolour).

Perhaps not everyone would appreciate having their portrait painted in yellow and lilac, and Ken Church originally gave his work the title “Ugly Man”. They say “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and voters felt handsome Ken made a real success of the challenge.

Ken Church
SELF-PORTRAIT IN 2 COLOURS
Acrylic 20 x 30 cm
Cadmium Yellow and Lilac (and white)



2022 Winners

The theme for the final (November-December) Challenge of 2022 was “FOOD” and the appetising painting that Geoff Sully served up was the clear favourite on the menu:

Geoff Sully
MEZE AND MEMORIES
Acrylic
20 x 15 inches

There was a tie for first place in the September-October Challenge on the theme of “WILDLIFE” – the joint winners were Jackie Curtis and Pat Preater:

Jackie Curtis
KINGFISHER DIVING
Print using veneers and stencils
20 x 30 cm
Pat Preater
LITTLE BEASTIES
Watercolour

Voted “head and shoulders” above all other entries, the July-August Challenge “SOMETHING OLD” was this incredibly detailed portrait by Steve Gathercole:

Steve Gathercole
MY DAD
Pastels on pastelmat board
A4

The joint winners of the May-June 2022 Challenge “TRADITION” were David Daggar and Steve Gathercole:

David Daggar
IN THE SMITHY
Photographic print
A4
Steve Gathercole
MEXICAN CARNIVAL
Pastels on pastelmat board
A4

The crystal clear winner of the March-April Challenge “GLASS” was Geoffrey Bailey.

Geoffrey Bailey GLASS Oil 24 x 24 cm

The Jan-Feb 2022 Challenge “CLIMATE” was won by Steve Gathercole’s foreboding watercolour “Climate Change”. (A dramatic scene but if you think about it, not one to be taken literally.)

Steve Gathercole CLIMATE CHANGE Watercolour on cold press paper A4

Take a look at our 2021 winners

Pat Preater won the Nov-Dec 2021 challenge on the theme of “ANNIVERSARY” with this charming little painting:

Pat Preater BIRTHDAY PARTY Acrylic on board 10 x 8 inches

The joint winners of the Sept-Oct 2021 Challenge “COMMUNICATION” were Ken Church and Steve Gathercole:

Ken Church TOUCH OF LOVE Pen and Watercolour A4
Steve Gathercole ONLINE AND TWEETING Oils on wood panel 14″ x 11″

The July-August 2021 Challenge “WORK” was won by Steve Gathercole with this powerful image painted in oil on wood panel.


Another outstanding painting by Rob Shuttleworth was chosen for the May-June Challenge ‘FESTIVAL’


The Mar-Apl 2021 Challenge ‘WETLANDS’ was won by Rob Shuttleworth with this beautiful oil painting.


The Jan-Feb 2021 Challenge ‘WINTER’ was won by Jackie Curtis with this striking monoprint landscape.

Take a look at our outstanding Challenge winners from 2020