Portraits in strikingly different styles impressed the judges of this year’s competition.
Judges in the Cheshire Life Young Artist of the Year 2013 competition were impressed by three portraits submitted by talented local students.
The judges - established local gallery owners and artists - were impressed by the details and maturity in the winning entry and the two runners-up. Judges met at The Cottons Hotel in Knutsford to consider the entries and discuss their findings.
They declared 17-year-old Lauren Green from Mollington, near Chester, the winner for her striking black and white portrait of a young girl.
Head judge, artist Malcolm Croft, from Bramhall said: ‘The work really impressed the judges. All three winning entries were portraits, yet they all had their own style and used different mediums.
‘The work by the winning artist Lauren Green was an incredibly fine-detailed ink on paper portrait had the judges puzzled. Could something this good have really been made by hand?
The clue was in the almost-hidden pencil marks. We liked everything about this work - the composition, the execution, even the framing was sympathetic. I’d be interested to see more of this artist’s work. She shows real talent and I hope she’s thinking of going to art college.’
Macclesfield-based Jamie Hammill’s portrait, was most unusual. Last year, his bold and intricate sculpture of a torso and heart made him the 2012 winner.
Malcolm said: ‘The portrait by Jamie was painted on doors. I was delighted to see that last year’s winner is as good at painting as he is at sculpture. Being able to produce quality work in both two and three dimentions is very impressive.’
Ryan Brown from Grappenhall has won third prize. Malcolm said: ‘Ryan’s portait was very good, a fine piece of hypnotic hyper-realism. We really liked it.’
The winner and the runners-up will be invited to a prize-giving and each receive gift vouchers and certificate.
