The winners were announced at the opening ceremony on Saturday, with the major award – the Cessnock City Council Prize – going to Joanne Conder for her work Forest Light.

Art show judge Margaret Sivyer OAM, commented on the high quality of the entries, and praised the artists for their creativity and skill.

Category winners were:

Traditional – Wednesday’s Child by Susanne Gorring

Contemporary – Exotic by Rene Brager

Aboriginal – Sunrise by Vicki Purvis

Watercolour – In the Rain by Yvonne Barnett

Miniature – House by the River by Gaye Shield

Still Life or Flowers – From my Garden by Eugenia Dunlevie

Senior Youth – first prize, Ariel Dreaming by Abby Ussher; second, Green Tree Frog by Matilda Brown; third, Wandering Girl by Ebony Cannon.

Youth – Japanese Dragon by Ryan Lewis

Junior Youth (joint winners) – Home by Mekari Trevor Pattern; Spiderman by Chantelle Gray; The Past and the New by Luca Heibel

Organising committee spokesperson Graham Smith said the committee and Towns With Heart Inc expressed their sincere thanks to corporate and individual sponsors whose generous contributions allowed the inaugural show to be staged with such a short lead-time.

The Town of Murals art show is open at Kurri Kurri Community Centre on Monday until 6pm and Tuesday from 10am to 2pm.

September is Mural Month in Kurri Kurri, with special offers for mural tours throughout the month. Call  the Kurri Kurri Visitor Information Centre on 4936 1909 or go to www.visitkurrikurri.com for more information.