THE winner of Northumberland's largest open exhibition based her artwork on nature at Belsay.
Artist Gillian Lee Smith, who lives in Northumberland, was named overall winner of Museums Northumberland's Open Exhibition competition by a panel of judges for her painting, Roots Break Rock (Quarry Trees at Belsay), which depicts the roots of a tree breaking through the rock of a quarry wall.
The title is a play on the game rock, paper, scissors.
Gillian’s work was selected from more than 230 artworks submitted for the exhibition, which opens at Woodhorn Museum on Saturday, February 18.
Artists submit artworks based on a chosen theme. The theme for this year is ‘Wild Northumberland’.
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Gillian said: "I am surprised and delighted to be awarded overall winner for this year's Open Exhibition at Woodhorn Museum.
“This is my fourth time exhibiting in the show, and it just gets better year after year. The range of work is always inspiring, and I am so glad to see a Northumberland-based exhibition on this scale gaining deserved attention and submissions.
“I discovered the beautiful Belsay house, castle and quarry in 2021 and have been back many times. I sketch each time I am there and have become fascinated by the trees atop the quarry walls and the roots that have broken through the rock below."
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