Art awards celebrate local talent

Published 2:00pm 1 August 2022

Words by Ashleigh Howarth

Artist Elizabeth Duguid (pictured above) has been named the overall winner of this year’s Redcliffe Art Society Exhibition of Excellence by impressing the judges with a spectacular painting titled Dusk at Bribie Passage.

Elizabeth was one of 27 winners whose artistic talents were recognised at this annual art competition, with all artworks from the winners and finalists currently on display at the Redcliffe Art Gallery until Saturday, August 27.

Now in its 65th year, the Redcliffe Art Society’s annual Exhibition of Excellence is a calendar favourite and brings together the best works by society members from the past year.

Redcliffe Art Society President Janice Charlish said she was extremely impressed with this year’s submissions.

“There were lots of wonderful pieces submitted this year by our talented artists,” Janice says.

“A total of 60 artworks from our members are now on display at the Redcliffe Art Gallery, and we would love for the public to come on down and support us.”

Visitors can also have their say on who should win the People’s Choice Award.

“When people walk in the gallery, they can get themselves a voting card and vote on who they think should win the People’s Choice Award,” Janice says.

“It might not be as easy as they think, so what I say to people is to get a card, walk through the gallery and make a note of the ones they like the bets, and then cast their vote.

“There is sure to be some artwork in there that will surprise and amaze you.”

Above: Artist James Congdon, who won 2nd Prize overall and 1st Prize in the Still Life category. All photos were supplied by Sarah O'Neill Photography.

Full list of winners

Prizes are awarded across a number of categories including landscape, still life, portraiture and abstract/contemporary.

Here is the full list of winners from this year’s competition:

1^st Prize overall - Elizabeth Duguid
2^nd Prize overall – James Congdon
3^rd Prize overall - Barry Kidd
Mayor’s Choice Award - Kris Muscat
Mixed Media Award - Alice Sleeman
Award for Excellence in Watercolour - Joy Weatherall
The Whiting Family Memorial Award - Heather Delaney
Bernie Shaw Memorial Award - Marrilyn Stahmer
Landscape/Streetscape – 1^st Prize Kris Muscat; 2^nd Prize Jim Edwards
Figure/Portrait – 1^st Prize Donna Hawkins; 2^nd Prize Julie Purcell
Waterscape – 1^st Prize Jay Stuurop; 2^nd Prize Eva Hekel
Still Life – 1^st Prize James Congdon; 2^nd Prize Marion Holmes
Flora/Fauna – 1^st Prize Harriett Valckx-Jakins; 2^nd Prize Catherine Carpenter
Abstract/Contemporary – 1^st Prize Sue Marks; 2^nd Prize Trudy Brooks
Highly commended winners - Petra Daecke, Christine Velde, Marie Smith, Fiona Harding, Yoriko Fleming, Fran Robinson, Deborah Darke

Above: Artist Barry Kidd, who won 3rd Prize overall. Barry will also be doing a workshop at the Redcliffe Art Gallery on August 27.

Your chance to meet the artists

If you are visiting the gallery on a weekend, there will also be opportunities to meet a number of artists on the following dates:

Oil Paints with Julie Purcell

When: Saturday, August 6 from 10.30-11.30am

About: Julie is an emerging local artist and was the overall winner in 2021. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours through the Queensland College of Art. Her practice fuses painting, textile printing and fashion design to express suburban spirit.

Watercolours with Yoriko Fleming

When: Saturday, August 13 from 10.30-11.30am

About: Yoriko was the overall winner in 2019. Since moving to Australia in 2003 from Japan, she has tutored in watercolour and drawing at the U3A in Redcliffe and illustrated a children’s book.

Charcoal and pastels on textured canvas with Tricia Reust

When: Saturday, August 30 from 10.30-11.30am

About: Tricia is a Master Pastellist with the Pastel Society of Australia and a life member of the Redcliffe Art Society. She has written books and instructional videos on different art techniques and taught throughout Australia and overseas.

Oil paints with Barry Kidd

When: Saturday, August 27 from 10.30-11.30am

About: Barry’s reputation as an artist of note has evolved over the last 30 plus years. Since moving to Redcliffe in 1998, Barry has won eight years in succession the landscape award at the Redcliffe Art Society.