The UK’s largest and most prestigious collection of contemporary watercolour paintings travelled to Bristol recently where it was exhibited at accountancy, investment management and tax group Smith & Williamson’s offices in the city centre.
Clients and guests were invited to attend a private viewing of the 76 paintings shortlisted in the 29th Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, which is sponsored by Smith & Williamson.
The winner of the Smith & Williamson Cityscape Prize, Gridlock (Manhattan) by Janet Kenyon, proved to be a particular talking point.
This was the first year the winning painting was selected by the firm’s staff and partners, with Gridlock (Manhattan) attracting 64% of the votes.
Other winners featured at the event included Kathryn Maples, who took the top prize of £10,000 for her painting Sandy Shoes, and Chloe Le Tissier, who was awarded second prize for Never Alone.
Smith & Williamson Bristol office managing partner Mike Lea said: “We were delighted to bring this diverse collection of paintings to Bristol, and to be able to share them with our local clients and contacts.
“This has become a popular annual event which brings people together to discuss and enjoy thought-provoking works by our most talented contemporary watercolour artists.”
The 2016 judging panel was made up of Akash Bhatt, winner of last year’s Sunday Times Watercolour Competition; Sara Dudman, artist; Simon Oldfield, director of Simon Oldfield Gallery; Desmond Shawe-Taylor CVO, Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures, and Louis Wise, critic and writer at The Sunday Times.
Pictured below, from left: Nigel Gardner, James Tidmarsh, Mike Lea, Imogen Hilton-Brown and Kate Anthony Wilkinson
Pictured below, from left: Ben and Will Pearse, Dave Mouncey and Jeni Pearse
Pictured below, from left: Sue McGowan, Sarah Spottiswood, Hilary Lewis, David Reed and Jackie Powell
Pictured below, from left: James Tidmarsh, Martyn Cross and Ruth Mower
Pictured below, from left: Paul Stone and Ian Stinson
Pictured below: Musician Dan Moore
