Artists have a brush with success
14-AUG-09
Issued by: Graeme Cook
Artists are to be honoured following the success of an exhibition in Tynemouth.
Thanks to a partnership between an arts organisation and North Tyneside Council, artists competed for the inaugural North of the Wall Annual Art Prize.
The exhibition consisted of a shortlist of 30 finalists, after around 200 entrants from across the country had their work whittled down by judges.
North Tyneside Council supported the event by agreeing to a five-week let on a building in Front Street, Tynemouth, which hosted the display.
The exhibition, organised by North of the Wall Ltd, attracted over 3,000 visitors since its opening on 18 July, with artists competing for a total prize fund of £6,000.
This included £3,000 for the overall winner, £1,500 for the winner of the disabled artist category, £500 for winner of a public vote, and £500 for two runners-up.
Wayne Purcell, 38, from Leeds, picked-up the award for Overall Winner for his painting 'Smiley'.
He said: "I hadn't shown much work before, just a few local shows. So the competition was a fantastic way to find my feet and understand the process.
"I found out I'd won when I opened an email giving me the good news - the feeling was absolutely exhilarating.
"Artists can be somewhat temperamental. We are either utter rubbish one minute, and going to change the world the next.
"So winning this prize has certainly given me a real confidence boost to carry on with what I'm doing. In fact, I'm back in the studio now working on pieces for further competitions."
Sophie Morgan won the award for artists with a disability for her piece 'Dream hug'.
Prizes will be presented by Steve Williams, director of North of the Wall Ltd, at a formal ceremony at the gallery on Saturday 15 August at 5pm.
Wayne said: "I'm really looking forward to the presentation. I'm delighted to have won and it'll be absolutely brilliant to pick-up my award."
All works were available to buy until the exhibition ended on 15 August, with ten per cent of all sales commission being donated to charity.
This year's chosen charity was the North Tyneside Arts Studio, based at the Linskill Centre, Tynemouth.
North Tyneside's coastline is well known for its rich artistic heritage, including areas such as Cullercoats, which developed a reputation in the 19th Century as an artist's colony.
Steve Williams, of North of the Wall, said: "The event was a massive success and the feedback we got from visitors has been fantastic."
Notes to editor
Other winners included:
- Runner-up (£500): Lorna Giezot for 'One lump or two'
- Runner-up (£500): Sarah Morpeth for 'Torquil's book'
- Public vote (£500): Yola Quinn for 'Messenger'
ENDS