A MOVE to expand the scope of the Queanbeyan Council’s  Regional Art Award, has this year seen emerging to mid-career artists from Cooma-Monaro, Yass Valley, Palerang and Queanbeyan council areas all eligible to submit entries.

Burra artist Sharon Field was last night named the winner of the $2,000 Queanbeyan City Council Regional Art Award at a ceremony opened by Queanbeyan Mayor Tim Overall.

Judges Martin and Susie Beaver of Beaver Galleries in Deakin were on hand to comment on the “quite extraordinary” standard of entries. Mr Beaver said that the judging had been “blind” without their knowing the identity of the entrants, and that they had both been continually drawn back to Ms Field’s graphite drawing on paper titled “Pods in Space – The Queanbeyan Kurrajong.”

There was a surprise when it was announced that the $250 Highly Commended Award had been split between brothers, 5-year-old Angus Primrose for a charcoal drawing on paper titled “Donkey Kong”, and 8-year-old Oliver Primrose for a watercolour and texta piece titled “Portrait of my Dad.” It didn’t matter that it was children’s art, Mr Beaver said, the originality was evident.

The Queanbeyan City Council Regional Art Award exhibition will remain up until August 24, Monday-Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 10am-3pm.  Residents are encouraged to visit the exhibition and vote on the $250 Peoples’ Choice award.