Organised by the Anglican Parish of Mount Vincent and Weston, the show was opened by 1233 ABC Newcastle station manager Philip Ashley-Brown.

The art show continued until Saturday and organiser Kathy Gilshenen said it was one of the biggest yet.

Cessnock Regional Art Gallery director John Barnes was faced with the daunting task of judging the 417 entries.

“The standard of work was so high – it shows the breadth and depth of interest of art in our region,” Dr. Barnes said.

“It’s from shows like this that we are finding artists to exhibit in the gallery.”

With 11 classes plus three youth sections, Dr. Barnes said he could have given many highly commended awards in each section.

But the one he kept coming back to was Lesley Salem’s ‘Christmas Bush’, which took out the $2000 major prize, sponsored by Cessnock City Council.

A nurse practitioner in remote communities, Lesley was absent on the night due to work commitments and her husband George accepted the award on her behalf.

Lesley’s father, award-winning Aboriginal artist Les Elvin was also in attendance and said he is very proud of his daughter’s achievement.

Bruce Naylor won the Regional Art Prize for the third time with his work ‘Big Red Ahead’. Kurri Rotary Club sponsored the $1500 prize, coming on board after the closure of Hydro aluminium smelter (which sponsored the prize since 1991).

View more photos from the night in our gallery here. 

SECTION WINNERS

Watercolour – Gerhard Ullmann, ‘Under the Waterfall’;

Traditional – John Earle, ‘Merewether, Storm’.

Pencil, Pen or Ink On Paper – Gaye Shield, ‘Wet Pee Wees’.

Still Life – Kay Sparkes, ‘Apology to Andy’.

Flowers – Eugenia Dunlevie, ‘Poppy Vista’.

Miniature – Caroline Lobsey, ‘Untitled’.

Indigenous – Les Ahoy, ‘Street Corroboree’.

Religious/Spiritual – Gerhard Ullmann, ‘Misty Morning’.

Regional Art Prize – Bruce Naylor, ‘Big Read Ahead’.

Scenes from Weston Special Award – Cindy Staley, ‘Walking along Weston Creek’.

Junior Youth Award – Rylan Staley, ‘Bird Talk’.

Youth Award – Corrin Staley, ‘The Crevice’.

Senior Youth Award – Sarah Kay-Herring, ‘Return to the Wild’.