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Our Summer Nature Art Competition

Published 28th July 2022, in Blog, News, News & Updates, Wellbeing

Living Options Devon ran a summer nature-themed art competition.

Illustration of a butterfly on an artists bench with brushes and paints spread around

As part of our strategy to support your wellbeing, we launched a summer nature art competition. We asked people to create any type of flat artwork that represents nature, ideally focussing on the nature of Devon. They could choose to draw, paint, or use digital media like tablet artwork. They could choose any subject, a landscape, seascape, wildlife, or any other natural subject. We asked that their artwork includes our Living Options Devon colours of yellow and blue somewhere in your work.

We hoped this competition would encourage artistic people across Devon to get outside in our beautiful countryside and relax by creating amazing artwork.

artists paint brushes

Thank you to MAKE South West and Dartmouth Steam Railway & Riverboat Company as they donated us some wonderful prizes. The winning prize was a family ticket on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and the runner up prize was a crafting goodie bag.

In September we began the judging process, we had a local artist Kate Aggett and MAKE South West as our judges. We got together and chose two fantastic paintings which we deemed worthy of the 1st and 2nd prize.

Our Winner

Susan Wotton with ‘The Life Of A Dandelion’

Susan says – ‘I started painting in lockdown because I couldn’t work and therefore it has become a passion and certainly led me to new avenues in my life.   I normally paint quirky animals, I was even lucky to have one printed in the Daily Mirror one Saturday last year in the summer as they asked people to write in what they had been doing in lockdown.   In the summer I attend the Paignton Harbourside Craft Market on a Friday evening selling, cards, framed prints, coasters and mugs of some of the favourite characters.  This painting was at a request of a friend and subject that I had never tried before. Once again, thank you very much.’

Our Runner up

Dee Masters with ‘The Blue Tit’

Dee Says – ‘I took up painting as a form of relaxation a few years ago. I was employed by my church to work with people with addictions and people in the
community who needed a bit of extra support and I needed something a bit lighter to take up my headspace ! It evolved into not just relaxation but I was able to sell a few pieces. I now take commissions, usually animals but sometimes landscapes working from photos. My belief is that God gives us all different gifts and I think that painting is one of mine. 
 
The blue tit painting I entered into the competition was one that I did for relaxation and it just happened to be blue & yellow and a painting about nature ! Winning 2nd place has encouraged me and made me more confident in my painting. Thank you.’

We want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of the wonderful entries we received. We have really enjoyed seeing all of your beautiful art work.

Watch this space for more competitions in the future.