Winner of the Valeria Sykes Award is Francis Bell with ‘Lockdown’. Frances was born in 1983, and raised in Suffolk. After developing an early interest in drawing and painting, she then pursued art and art history at school. At aged 18 she made her way to Florence to pursue a classical training at Charles. H. Cecil Studios in 2001 for 3 years, and then taught sporadically there for a further seven summers.

Frances works through each portrait in layers without preparatory sketches adopting a more organic process by making subtle changes throughout the painting.

Winner of New Light Patron’s Choice Award is Robert Cook with Bog Bumper Emerging from the Moss. Robert graduated from Blackpool & Fylde College with a degree in Scientific Illustration but now works as a Wildlife Artist in Lancashire.

Key elements to Robert's work include careful observation, draughtsmanship, a strong sense of colour and design. Drawing inspiration from the countryside he seeks to create narratives of birds in their natural habitat.  

New Light Emerging Artist Award (Sponsored by Saul Hay Gallery) - George Melling with ‘During the endless night she felt herself losing her mind’ 

George Melling is a Lancashire based artist who graduated from Chelsea College of Art. George’s current body of work draws on images from photographs of family and friends from my childhood and teenage years. While there is clearly an autobiographical thread, there are touch points within the images which offer a wider resonance as they reference time, geography and social class.

The New Light Purchase Prize Winner is Christine Stables with The Art of Balance. Christine Stables is an artist and painter based in Cheshire with a background in textile art. In 2019 Christine developed a new visual language which spanned across abstract painting.

In ‘Art of Balance’ Christine uses acrylic paint, glazes and inks to produce abstract paintings which flow and meander through organic amorphous shapes.

Winner of the New Light Sculpture Prize - Brian Shields with his sculpture ‘FALLEN’

Brian Shields was born on the North Yorkshire Coast and now lives and works in the Eden Valley, Cumbria. His artistic practice encompasses - painting, sculpture, print and film. His work sources from the real and the imagined. Frequently images from myth, folklore and romanticism; with a particular focus on the poet John Clare, are repurposed to explore aspects of the human condition.

If you haven't already theres still chance to visit the New Light Prize Exhibition which is open until 22 September. Explore a collection of over 100 artworks from some exceptional Northern talent. Spot this year's prize winners and vote for your favourite artwork in the Visitors' Choice Award (sponsored by TIG).

The Visitor's Choice from The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum is 'Never if you can Help it Miss Seeing the Sunset and The Dawn J Ruskin': which you can see on display now!

Visit the gallery to cast your vote or browse the full New Light Prize collection below.