Keswick - exhibition opens and awards announced

Derwent Award for Best in Show - Windswept by Sue Clinker
38 x 43cm, Derwent Coloursoft and Prismacolor on Drafting film
copyright the artist

The 7th Annual 'World of Coloured Pencil' Mixed Media Exhibition 2009, sponsored by Derwent Pencils and Leisure Painter, opened yesterday at the Pencil Museum in Keswick and continues until 27th June.

This exhibition is open to all UKCPS members irrespective of experience and entries are accepted on a first come first served basis. The exhibition comprises the first 24 entries sent in after the opening date for entries. Work can be in mixed media but coloured pencil must be the main medium. The awards were announced yesterday and are listed below.

The Derwent Award for Best in Show was awarded to Windswept by Sue Clinker who lives in Whitstable.

This was based on a puppy I photographed on a windy day by the sea at Tankerton Slopes. I loved the way his coat was “fluffed up"

Sue won the Reserve Best in Show last year despite being a relative newcomer to coloured pencils. On hearing she'd won the top prize this year Sue wanted to say how grateful she was for all the help and encouragement she has received from the UKCPS and its members. Sue is now a full time artist who largely works on commission. Last night she took a break from her commissions for family celebrations on hearing the good news!

The Best in Show Award - sponsored by Derwent Pencils - comprises:

• 72 set new Derwent Watercolour pencils – in wooden box.
• Portable Artists Pencil Stand
• Coloursoft Table Easel Set, incl. 24 Coloursoft pencils, hard cover sketchbook, blender and sharpener,
• Hard back Sketchbook Journal
• Tin of Soft Sketching pencils
• Pencil Wrap, Battery Eraser, Pencil Sharpener and Burnisher & Blender set

Other Awards were as follows:

• The UKCPS Award for ‘Reserve Best in Show’ (£150): Neigh-bours by Pauline Longley
• UKCPS Award for Runner Up (£50) Angels Trumpets by Janie Pirie SBA, UKCPS

• The Leisure Painter Magazine Award (2 years subscription to the magazine) awarded to the ‘Best Newcomer’ entry - The Floral Shawl by Ursula Williams .

Two further entries were Highly Commended and the artists will receive a UKCPS certificate and 10 sheets drawing paper. These were

• Ducks by Judith Heilbronn Crown
• Murano Island, Venice by Linda Brand

The Peoples’ Choice Award will be decided by public vote over the course of the exhibition and will be announced at the end of the exhibition - and on this blog.

An online exhibition of all the entries is now on the UKCPS website.

I'll also be highlighting images of the other award winners on this blog later this week.

Links:

• 7th Annual 'World of Coloured Pencil' Mixed Media Competition 2009 - 31st May - 27th June 2009 - Venue: The Cumberland Pencil Museum, Keswick, CA12 5NG
• UKCPS Website - online exhibition coming soon