The Bristol office of accountancy firm Smith & Williamson, has hosted an exhibition of art shortlisted for the 27th annual Sunday Times Watercolour Competition 2014 – the largest exhibition of its kind in the UK.
A private viewing of 93 original works by 73 artists included four from Somerset – Leo Davey from Minehead, Lucy Willis from Bridgwater, David A Parfitt from Radstock and Sara Dudman from Taunton.
Smith & Williamson managing partner in Bristol, Mike Lea, said: “We were delighted to be able to host this important exhibition which celebrates the diversity and beauty of the medium of watercolour.
“The standard of entries was extremely high and we were pleased to see local artists included in the shortlist. We were delighted so many of our clients and contacts could join us for what was a highly enjoyable and stimulating evening of art.”
The three winners’ paintings, judged by artists Sarah Armstrong Jones and Ben Ravenscroft, Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures Desmond Shawe-Taylor CVO, and Sunday Times critic and writer Louis Wise, were among those featured in the exhibition.
First prize was awarded to Kathryn Maple for ‘Fat Boy’s Diner’, while second prize went to Danny Markey for his work entitled ‘Rear view mirror and blue ship’.
Paul Newland’s watercolour and gouache work ‘From the Southern Suburbs II’ was awarded the Smith & Williamson Cityscape Prize in third place.
Pictured, from left: Richard Brown, partner at Veale Wasbrough Vizards, and Frances Brown; Mike Lea, Smith & Williamson managing partner, Bristol; Nicki Sampson, strategic PR manager at Empica and Paul Sampson, owner, SampsonLegal
