Barry Yates of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve gave members of the Tuesday Painters Club of Rye permission to use any of the photos posted on the RHNR’s Facebook page as inspiration for their competition ”Impressions of Rye Harbour & the Nature Reserve” which took place between June 26 and July 31.
The competition was set up by the Club to keep its artists busy during lockdown and/or self-isolation since all other activities, including the annual Summer Exhibition which would otherwise have taken place this month, have had to be cancelled. He also very kindly agreed to judge the paintings inspired by the area and has chosen his winner – Rosie Frost’s oil painting of “Norton’s Hut”.
Rosie will receive a £50 ArtWrite voucher, to spend on art materials from the Rye shop. Barry had no idea who the artists were as the artworks were all posted anonymously on the Tuesday Painters’ Facebook page.
The winning painting is featured above and the runners-up and shortlisted entries appear in the gallery below.
Barry commented: “It’s a familiar subject, the one most photographed and painted on the reserve, but it’s an unusual angle that gives the image a great depth and the lighting made me feel I was there and could hear the river and fishing boats nearby”.
Our winner was so excited to have had her painting chosen, jumping around looking for the bubbly to celebrate, while mentally spending her £50 at ArtWrite which, sadly, does not stock Prosecco. We are all so pleased for her as Rosie is our tireless Club Secretary and yet still found the time to paint two winning pictures! She was even more amazed to learn her painting of “Rye Harbour after Lockdown” was Barry’s choice of 3rd runner-up.
Barry said: “Judging was harder than I thought! Everyone did far better than I could! I enjoyed judging this great range of paintings of Rye Harbour and the Nature Reserve – different styles and so many different skies. I made a short-list of seven and then chose a winner and two runners-up.”
The second runner up was Tricia Bower who painted “Groynes at Low Tide at Rye Harbour” in watercolour.
“The zig-zag groynes fascinated me and this has been painted with an understanding of the worn wood, the low-tide and the clear sky. Excellent portrayal of the subject at low tide on a summer’s day”, said Barry.
In third place was Rosie Frost again with “Rye Harbour after Lockdown” in oil.
“This sums up a summer’s day at the river mouth and would make a great card if printed back and front. It could be nowhere else, even without the red-roofed hut, and has people and wildlife, a delicate balance that we try to manage”.
Shortlisted paintings included:
Tricia Bowler: “Fishing Boats at Rye Harbour’” “Such detail, I could almost be there at the harbour on such a still day”.
Claire Polley: “Mary Stanford Lifeboat. House” from a RHNR photo. “So very different and so striking”.
Kathy Russell: “Teasels, Rye Harbour”. “It’s good to get down low to make the teasels break the skyline and you have kept their architecture”.
Cheryl Fraser-Sampson: “Lapwing”. “A great Lapwing that has kept its shape, texture and the range of colours on its wings”.
You can find out more about the Tuesday Painter’s Group on their facebook page.
Image Credits: Rose Frost , Tuesday Painters .