An Arrowtown artist says he is "delighted" to win the people's choice award in the Arrowtown Autumn Festival Locations Art Exhibition.
Professional artist David John won the accolade and $300 for his "different way of doing a portrait", an oil on canvas painting of his daughter, Fineen (7), titled Chrysalis. His work earned 50 of the 200 votes cast and was by far the most popular in the ballot box.
The Locations Realty Supreme Painting Award and $2000 prize went to Rachel Hirabayashi, of Cromwell, for her acrylic on canvas, Above the Valley.
Mr John, a Liverpudlian who has lived in Arrowtown for 31 years, won another award as well. His oil on canvas portrait of Arrowtown woman Bonnie Begley, called The Black Dress, won one of the two Arrowtown Gallery Merit Awards.
The other merit award winner was Queenstown artist Ping Wang.
Awards and award winners include: Quality Canvases and Art Supplies merit awards, Prue Gibson and Jenny Chisholm; Arrowtown Autumn Festival Committee award for artists under 25, Kristopher Thomas; Millbrook Resort award for best local applied artist, Andi Regan; Berry and Co supreme applied art award, Dominic Burrell; Print Central best local painting award, John Crump.
The judge was guest artist Paul Lindsay, of Invercargill, whose work was also presented out of competition.
All 175 paintings, mixed media, photographs ceramics, woodcrafts, fabrics and jewellery will be on display in the museum until May 29.
