Welcome to the Louisa Waterford Prize 2024 

There were 22 finalists for this year's event, selected for the three-day exhibition at Etal Village Hall, Etal, Northumberland, over Spring Bank Holiday May 4 till Monday May 6.

Each piece reflected the artist's personal take on this year's theme "A Perfect Paradise". Their response was been overwhelming and very poignant.

Submissions ranged from landscape and portrait paintings to stonemasonry and textile 3D sculptures.

The overall winner was artist Richard O'Connor's painting "St Cuthbert's Way to Wooler" (above), which selected by the panel of eminent judges.

Richard was also selected by visitors for the People's Choice prize. 

Originally from Country Durham, Richard now lives in the Scottish Borders. He is self-taught and mostly paints plein-air. 

His winning piece was inspired by summer family walks, over many weekends, following this ancient, scenic path, not far from his home.

Three other artists were highly commended by the judges for special mention. They are: Pamela Ormston  "Coffee and Carrier Bags"; Tom Paterson  "Reflection in the Floods" and Sarah Morpeth  "In the Hedgerow".

Here are the 2024 finalists - in no particular order.

Sarah Morpeth (Papercut Artist) 

In the Hedgerow

seven-layered 3D tunnel book in gouache, ink, wire in Perspex case.

Pamela Ormston (Artist)

Coffee and Charity Bags (self-portrait in studio chair)

coffee and oil on canvas

Hannah Forsyth (Printmaker)

monotype print (40x40cm)

Julie Glendinning (Textile Artist)

Beloved

embroidered, hand-painted textile wall hanging (50x36cm)

Jill Shields (Artist)

Dreaming of Paradise

acrylic on canvas board (43x43cm)

Richard O'Connor ( Artist) WINNER 2024

St Cuthbert's Way to Wooler

(70x50cm) soft pastel

Pamela Ormston (Artist)

The Days are Long, but the Years are Short

oil on canvas

 

Emma Sweryda (Textile Artist)

Hazy View of the Cheviots

needle felt image (30x40cm)

Claire Ong (Textile Artist)

Overused and Overvalued

quilted collage of screen-printed fabrics interspersed with laser-cut text  

Grace Impesi (Stonemason)

floral arts and crafts sign hand carved in local Swinton sandstone (32x21cm)

Linda Scott-Robinson

Breathe

acrylic on canvas (130x100cm)

Linda Scott-Robinson

Rain and Shine

acrylic on canvas ( 138x97cm)

Tom Paterson

Reflections Across the Pond

acrylic on canvas (40x30cm)

Tom Paterson

Reflections in the Floods

acrylic on canvas ( 40x30cm)

Jane Strugnell

Winter Sunrise at Ford

acrylic on canvas (110x40cm)

Jan Ferguson (Wildlife Artist)

Barn Owl Family

watercolour and gouache on board  (19" x 21")

Anthea Wood (artist/printmaker)

A Rare Place

oil painting (50x60cm)

 

Stuart Jones (plein-air artist)

Volleyball and St George's)

oil on canvas board (30x50cm)

Natasha Armstrong

Lady Waterford Hall on Copper Leaf

acrylic on copper leaf (31x41cm)

Keith Walker (artist)

A Mother's Love

acrylic on canvas (40x30cm) SOLD

Anthea Wood (artist/printmaker)

A Room with no View

oil painting (60x60cm)

Linda Gaskell (artist)

Home at Last

gouache and coloured pencil (25x34cm)

Julia Sweryda

The Good Tree

oil on canvas ( 46x61cm)

Keith Walker (artist)

Misty Flight

acrylic on canvas (41x60cm)

John Rothwell (artist/printmaker)

Enchanted Woods Copper/Green

oil and wax mixed media on paper (58x48cm)

Caroline Milne (artist)

A Moment in Time

oil on canvas (60x70cm)

John Rothwell (artist/printmaker)

Enchanted Woods - Ash

oil and wax mixed media on paper (45x35cm)

Anna Turnbull (fibre artist) & Richard Charters (potter/3D designer)

Three Red Squirrel Sculptures

willow on mild steel framework (H38xW40xD26cm)