Sunday 2nd August
A day of paint, collage, pastels and smiles! The weather was perfection and the Sunflowers were prolific.
Here are some of the images painted on the day.
Experienced Category
First Prize: Cathy Taylor
Feedback from Judges – Suzy Rushbrook and Arts in Hospital. Cathy captures the event perfectly with such realism to her characters – I love this illustrative style. Everything suggests movement and energy.
Sponsors – Rolls Landscaping, and Art2Card
Runner Up: Olivia Nurrish
Feedback from Judges – Suzy Rushbrook and Arts in Hospital – Olivia captures the event perfectly with such realism to her characters – I love this illustrative style. Everything suggests movement and energy.
Sponsors – Places for People and Art2Card
Enthusiast Category
Winner – Roger Still
Feedback from judge Kim Day , Sky Landscape Artist of the Year 2026. Just to say I wish that they could all be winners! they all had something wonderful to offer but if I have to pick a winner it would be.
Roger Still, this painting just seems so full of light and energy, the composition works so well with th/e larger sunflower heads in the foreground and the sense of the whole field off in the background. A lovely work.
Sponsors Morrishs homes and Art2Card
Runner Up – Marina King
Feedback from Judge Kim Day , Sky Landscape Artist of the Year 2026. Marina King, this painting is a more gentle investigative look at the Sunflower field, with the shadows and light hitting the flowers. I love the way the forms flow across the paper making you look across the work in different ways.
Sponsors CGFry and Art2Card
Senior — 14 to 17
Sponsors – Rotary Poundbury and Art2Card
Judge – Lizzie Mehtu – Art in Poundbury Core team and After School Kids Club
Winner – Olivia L ( Leadley)
Wow! This one made me lean in to make sure I could see every little bit. This collage painting is incredible. The petals have an almost feather-like quality, lifting the darkness of the colours chosen. The little rhinestones and other shaped beads also add a whimsical element. A very unusual treatment of the subject matter. Amazing!.
Runner Up – Indie B ( Bowers)
Feedback from Judge Kim Day , Sky Landscape Artist of the Year 2026. Marina King, this painting is a more gentle investigative look at the Sunflower field, with the shadows and light hitting the flowers. I love the way the forms flow across the paper making you look across the work in different ways.
Intermediate — 10 to 13
Judge — Eli Kerr – Walnut Gallery Poundbury
Winner — Winner: Zoe B ( Baines )
A fun and vibrant painting capturing the tightly packed field of sunflowers beneath the blue summer skies with happy bees bringing the trail to life. The rich texture and uplifting colours certainly creates the perfect cheerful atmosphere at Maiden Castle farm. Well done!
Runner Up — Eliza B (Beale)
A beautifully detailed sunflower, with delicate touches including the bee, seeds, flowing petals and subtle shading. A thoughtful and skillfully painted piece that shows wonderful creativity and observation. Well done!
Junior — 5 to 9
Judge : Teresa Lawton
Winner — Julie T ( Tarala)
Such a well observed painting of the sunflower fields, the path or track, Poundbury and Maiden Castle. I love the way she’s filled every bit of space and it tells the whole story of her day immersed in those beautiful sunflowers. Fantastic Julia.
Runner Up — Faye G (Gardiner)
A perfect example of the day, a beautifully observed example with the bright blue sky, the mass of yellow sunflowers behind and the bench with three perfect details of the stars of the day… Sunflowers. Well done Faye.
