One painting, two amazing awards at TALP exhibition 2023

I am so pleased to announce that my painting “Early Spring in Padley Gorge” has won not one, but two awards at the annual TALP exhibition at Patchings Art Centre. This is a wonderful exhibition organised by the publishers of The Artist and Leisure Painter magazines. I was lucky to be awarded the Clairefontaine Award (full of high quality paper goodies!) and The Artist Exhibition Award.

I am especially proud to receive these accolades for this particular painting. I painted “Early Spring in Padley Gorge” en plein air, that is, on location, perched up on one of the muddy rocks next to Padley Gorge. At the time I was just building my confidence as a plein air painter, and I believe I managed to capture the spirit of the place on that particular day.

Painting with me was my friend and mentor Jenny Aitken ARSMA. Not sure I would have been brave enough to set my easel up quite so close to the roaring water if it hadn’t been for her!

In 2022, I entered the TALP exhibition as a Leisure painter. It was the first time I dared put myself forward for an exhibition. To my astonishment, my painting “Mother and Calf” was not only included in the exhibition, but also won the Search Press award, from the publishers of art and crafts books. Now, having exhibited in a great many art shows, I know how much this first award meant to me and how much more confidence it gave me.

This year, the Artist Exhibition Award means that I am one of 10 artists invited to be part of an exhibition at the Patchings Art Centre in October 2024. How exciting! Better start putting some paint to canvas…

If you are interested in a limited edition print of the painting, you may still find some available here.