CANBERRA artist Solomon Karmel-Shann has won the $10,000 Hornsby Art Prize.

His artwork, “A Whispering Flag”, which depicts a troubled young man walking away from a red flag that towers in the distance on top of the hill.

It was described by the judges as evoking “a sense of mystique and an underlying story”.

On receiving the award, Karmel-Shann said: “‘A Whispering Flag’ is a very personal painting, exploring change, difficult decisions, contemplation… a story that’s just out of reach of a conclusion.”

“Winning the Hornsby Art Prize was a very surreal experience, one that still feels a bit like a dream. I worked really hard on my painting, alone in the studio with my own thoughts and doubts. It’s so encouraging to be given an award like this. Thrilling, actually.”

Karmel-Shann has also this week been named among the semi-finalists in the 2022 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Australia’s richest portrait prize for his painting, “Portrait of the Artist with a Blank Canvas”.

Hosted by the Hornsby Art Society, the Hornsby Art Prize is an annual, national art competition and exhibition promoting and celebrating outstanding original works of art.

Other winners were Cleo Wilkinson, Linda Lunnon, Garth Henderson and Ross Richardson, while the Wallarobba Outstanding Local Award was awarded to Maide Anne Welch and the Hornsby Shire Emerging Artist Award to Amelia Ruggiero.

The prize winners and finalists, will be on exhibition at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre and Hornsby Central Library until October 30.