New Forest Open Art People's Choice Award
A sculpture of a horse's head made from local gorse wood has been awarded the People's Choice Prize in this year's New Forest Open Art competition.
The entry, entitled 'The Forester' and created by Kim Weiler from Milford-on-Sea, had already been highly commended by the judges at the beginning of the exhibition which took place in the New Forest Centre Gallery from July to September. Visitors to the Centre were able to vote for their favourite throughout the Summer.
The New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst has been a fantastic showcase over the Summer for the Open Art Exhibition and I am so thrilled 'The Forester' has won the People's Prize,' commented Kim.
'The New Forest is such an inspiring place and my pieces are made from gorse wood, collected under licence from around the Forest. I also enjoy taking part in local craft fairs and Blue Dog Art has been very supportive.'
New Forest Centre Manager Hilary Marshall said: 'I am delighted, but not surprised, that 'The Forester' by Kim Weiler was such a firm favourite with our visitors. Having already been awarded Highly commended by the competition judges, it is a wonderful use of locally-sourced materials.'
New Forest Open Art Exhibition 2016
Teresa Rogers from Redlynch scooped the first prize in this year's New Forest Open Art Competition with her painting 'Autumn Trees'.
The competition was stiff this year with a record 219 entries, making a hard job for the judges to choose the shortlisted pieces which where displayed in the New Forest Centre Gallery from 16 July until 3 September. The other prize winners were Malcolm Sears whose painting 'Hurst Point Lighthouse' was placed second and Baxter Bradford's photograph 'Magical Journey' which came third. Kim Weiler was also highly commended by the judges for her gorse wood sculpture 'The Forester'.
‘This has been another record year for Open Art Competition entries and as usual the standard has been very high,’ commented New Forest Centre Manager Hilary Marshall.
The New Forest Open Art Competition is run in partnership by the New Forest National Park Authority and the New Forest Centre, with support from ExxonMobil at the Fawley Refinery.
Winner Teresa said: 'This is the second year I've entered the competition. I'm thrilled to have won and to have my work hung alongside such talented artists. I will be entering again next year and I strongly encourage others to take part in this wonderful competition.'
Images of the exhibition gallery can be viewed online.
Pictured left to right: Alison Jones (Community Affairs Manager with competition sponsor ExxonMobil at Fawley Refinery), New Forest National Park Chief Executive Alison Barnes, New Forest Open Art winner 2016 Teresa Rogers, New Forest National Park Authority Chairman Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre and New Forest Centre Manager Hilary Marshall with the winning painting 'Autumn Trees'.
