Leamington art gallery announces winner of its annual open exhibition

Mark Elsmore, the artist who created the winning entry Playlist' - Watercolour Gouache for The Open 2022 exhibition at Leamington Art Gallery and Museum. He is pictured with Warwick District Council chairwoman Cllr Mini Mangat who presented him with the prize of £1,000. Picture supplied.

Leamington Art Gallery & Museum has announced the winner of its The Open 2022 exhibition.

Mark Elsmore was selected from the 350 entries for his painting entitled Playlist - Watercolour Gouache .

Warwick District Council chairwoman Cllr Mini Mangat presented Mark with his £1,000 prize.

Mark Elsmore's painting 'Playlist' - Watercolour Gouache which is the winning entry of The Open 2022 exhibition at Leamington Art Gallery & Museum. Picture supplied.

Mark said: “ “Listening to music, deep in thought.

“’The Playlist’ she is hearing is the soundtrack of her life.

"I was in Vienna with an aim to paint architecture, but it was impossible not to notice the young woman looking so interesting and painterly.

" I spotted her from a distance, she was sitting outside a church.

"She seemed lost in her thoughts, but getting closer I noticed her red boots tapping to the rhythm of the beat from her earphones - lost in music?

“She was a tourist like me, enjoying the sunshine.

"I tentatively asked if she would mind me taking a couple of photos for a possible painting.

"Bemused she shrugged her approval.

"The spell was broken as soon as she looked up but eventually I managed to get her to resume the original pose.

“I worked on the painting back at home.

Her likeness is good.

"I’ve altered a few things to help the narrative.

"The image is quiet, a good contrast to the lively sounds and thoughts within her head.

"I’ve changed her hair a bit to suggest a breeze and give an almost ethereal feeling.

"I’m trying to capture more than a still image.

“I have a theory that the music you imagine she is listening to will colour your own thoughts about her story.”

The independent judging panel of Stacey Barnfield, Victoria Smith and Otto Saumarez-Smith have chosen some ‘highly commended’ pieces and these along with all of the chosen entries are now on display in the temporary gallery at the art gallery.

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Visitors can also vote for their favourite artwork, for which the artist will receive the People’s Choice Award and £500 prize.

The winner of this will be announced towards the end of the exhibition in December.

Both prizes are donated by The Friends of Leamington Art Gallery.

https://leamingtonopen2022.artopps.co.uk/