Now in its fifth year, Test Valley Arts Foundation will again support the ‘The Best of Hampshire Artists’ Exhibition to be held in the beautiful Sir Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey.

Fifty of Hampshire's best artists will be displaying a wide variety of work in all mediums from acrylic to watercolour, pastel to pencil. Subjects will vary from landscapes to seascapes, portraits to pencil studies and it will give the visitor a wonderful opportunity to purchase original work quite often portraying local scenes.

In addition to framed work there will be a wide selection of unframed prints and original pieces, as well as a large selection of greetings cards by the artists. The judges will have had a hard time choosing their best picture in the exhibition and the lucky winner will win the ‘Loveday Trophy’ and a cheque for £300.

Once again Test Valley Arts Foundation has donated £250 for the ‘Best of Test Valley Artists’ painting to be judged by Jill Low, former director of Salisbury Arts Centre and general manager of Southampton's new arts complex which will create dramatic new contemporary arts spaces in the heart of the city.

Success for Alix in 2009 - last year’s award was won by well known Alix Baker from Longparish near Andover. Hearing about the success with her picture ‘International Cuisine’ Alix commented: “I am very honoured indeed to have received this prize at the opening of the Best of Hampshire Artists exhibition. Satisfaction in helping other artists is wonderful but to be recognised with a prize on the rare occasion when an artist has managed to find time for their own art is a real bonus.”

Last year’s winner Soraya French from Andover came second with ‘Studland Bay’ and Wendy Jelbert from Romsey came third with her ‘Seagulls and Sanddunes’.

At the presentation ceremony, Test Valley Arts Foundation development officer Michael Widén commented: “Test Valley Arts Foundation is committed to encouraging all forms of artistic activity within our region and we are particularly pleased to see our local artists so well represented in this stunning Hampshire-wide exhibition, now in its fourth year. The quality of the creative work exhibited is going up and up and the judge had a difficult task in choosing just one winner from amongst the thirty one paintings exhibited by artists resident in Test Valley.”

Judging the exhibits, Wendy Reynolds said: “Alix Baker‘s ‘International Cuisine’ is a very well composed conversation piece; the painting invites the viewer to enter a different world, evoking the heat of an afternoon in some Mediterranean place. I was highly impressed with the quality standard and very pleased and positive about the choice I made. I enjoyed being a judge at this exhibition.”

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is hosting ‘The Best of Hampshire Artists’ exhibition until 3rd October 2010. Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Entry is free.


Michael Widén presenting the 2009 award to Alix Baker