The Hope and Sons Art Awards, which is held every two years, returned to the Otago Art Societies exhibition hall in the Dunedin Railway Station yesterday for the 14th event since the awards began in 1998.
This year was the first time there had been a youth category.
South Island residents or members of the Otago Art Society under the age of 25 were eligible for the youth artist award, with the winner of the category receiving $500.
The category’s first winner was University of Otago student Polina Collins, a second-year biomedical student originally from Christchurch.
Ms Collins won for her piece Sunset in Central Otago, a mixed media collage piece on sale at the exhibition for $2900.
"This was one of my quicker works. It pretty much all came together straight away."
"I’m a full-time university student, so this is more like a hobby. I’ve entered into exhibitions before but this is my first time entering into the Hope and Sons awards."
Ms Collins said her family back in Christchurch would be "so excited" for her and her win.
About 200 pieces were submitted for the awards and 149 ultimately made it on to the walls.
The artworks will be on display in the Dunedin Railway Station by the Otago Art Society until May 18, and will be open seven days a week between 10am-4pm.
Overall first place went to James Parker, who won $5000 for his piece The Greige is Here, What Else is Coming? made from oil on canvas and displaying a colour between grey and beige — greige.
Second and third respectively went to Andy Hilder for her piece Time Capsule, and Mary Jane Sneyd for The Red Shed.
