CELEBRATION: Summer Birthdays by Harriet Brady collected the grand prize at this year’s Harley Open
Judges had to whittle down an initial 1,200 plus entries to arrive at the best 185 for this year’s Harley Open, these will now be on show until October 13.
Works on show include ‘Peering thro’ the cracks’ – a portrait of childhood innocence by Martin Davis that was inspired by a day out on Cromer pier in the company of his granddaughter.
The grand prize of £2,500, sponsored by the Harley Foundation, was awarded to Harriet Brady for her piece Summer Birthdays.
The exhibition features a wide range of artworks with an impressive variety of subjects, techniques and materials – from a still life of baked beans, to a tiny ceramic Elizabethan Gentleman.
This year, the Harley Open was selected by guest judge Selina Skipwith. Selina has curated numerous art exhibitions in the UK and abroad, including In Good Company at the Harley Gallery.
She was the former Director and Keeper of Art of The Fleming Collection 1996-2014.
Selina Skipwith, guest judge at the Harley Open, said: “It was both a privilege and a daunting task to judge this year’s Harley Open exhibition.
“This is the largest ever Harley Open with 185 artworks showing, which is a testament to the quality and range of entries.
“I selected Harriet Brady’s Summer Birthdays as the winning artwork for its technical ability and artistic flair – I kept being drawn back to the painting and feeling as though I was part of the conversation.”
Lisa Gee, Director of The Harley Gallery and Foundation, said: “Selecting the artworks for an Open Exhibition is always a difficult business, but this year with over 1,200 submissions to whittle down – it was truly a mammoth task.
“On display are the pieces that we felt made an interesting and engaging exhibition.”
Other prize winners include: Taylor Davies-King, winner of the Young Artist’s Prize; Graham Firth, whose artwork Between Breakfast and Brunch will be made into a limited-edition beer label by Welbeck Abbey Brewery; and Lucy Stevens, who was awarded a solo exhibition opportunity at Creswell Crags.
Visitors are invited to have their say by helping to choose the winner of the People’s Prize.
You can vote for your favourite exhibit to win this £750 prize, sponsored by the Welbeck Estates Company, by visiting the gallery or heading to the website harleyfoundation.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-harley-open-2024.
The art exhibition is free to enter and there is a large free to use car park. The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, check www.harleyfoundation.org.uk for opening times.
The Harley Foundation can be found at: A60 Mansfield Road, Welbeck, S80 3LW.