Open art winners are picture perfect

Published 2 August 2023                                                                                                                                                                    

If, as it's said, a picture paints a thousand words, then the winners for the Moorlands Open Art exhibition certainly have plenty to say.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council hosted the exhibition at the Nicholson Museum and Art Gallery in Leek and were very impressed by the artworks submitted by talented artists from across the District.

The Best in Show category was won by the late artist Kevin Bowcock for 'Figure Before a Window'. Kevin was a student at Leek School of Arts and Crafts from 1963 to 1966 producing paintings and drawings that reflected Leek at that time and often featuring pubs and cafes.

Kevin's wife, Sandra, collected the award on his behalf from the Chairman of the Staffordshire Moorlands Councillor Lyn Swindlehurst.

Other categories included:

• 2D -  won by Stephen Player for 'Gritstone Trail' with second place going to David Breakwell for 'Hydrangeas'
• 3D - won by Carole Cluer for 'Dad'. Runner-up in this category was Christopher Heath for 'The Cosmonaut'
• Photography - won by David Travis's 'Busy Bird' with 'Painted Lady' by Patricia Bradshaw taking second place
• Public vote award - won by Gavin Bowyer for his work 'C.I.C.U Behind the Curtain'

Councillor Bill Cawley, Cabinet Member for Communities, also helped present some of the winners with their awards.

He said: "The Moorlands has a history of arts and heritage which is clearly still going strong today. The standard of the entries this year was fantastic and we're lucky to have such a wealth of local artistic talent to enjoy.

"It's always a popular event and proved to be so once again this year. I'd like to congratulate everyone whose work was displayed and, of course, give a special mention to all those who won awards in their categories.

"We're already looking forward to next year's event when, I'm sure, we'll once again be impressed and delighted by skills and flair of our talented Moorlands artists."

The Nicholson Museum and Art Gallery, on Stockwell Street, is free to visit and is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.