Winning painting Razzle Dazzle – Superb Parrots.
Canberra artist Frances McMahon has won Best in Show and the $20,000 prize at this year’s Holmes Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Bird Art, announced at a packed opening night at Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery in Minyama on Friday 23 October.
Mayor Rosanna Natoli was MC, and singer-songwriter John Williamson, a lover of birds and of bird art, joined 20 of the 40 finalists in attendance. McMahon won with Razzle Dazzle – Superb Parrots.
Awards of Excellence ($1500 each) went to Brett Jarrett, Elena Kolotusha, Alex Louisa, Linda Lunnon, Greg Oakley and William Ritchie.
Four works sold on opening night, and first-time finalist Catherine Malcolm of Forest Glen sold Wings over Wire – Australian Kestrel in the first weekend.
People’s Choice voting is open until Friday 20 November. Visit the gallery, pop your vote in the box, and you’ll enter a draw for a signed, limited-edition Greg Postle print.