Meffan winners announced as show opens to public

Carol Sinclair with a pair of sculptural vessels in porcelain ‘Inside Outside'.

The show opened recently with a preview evening of the selected works.

Making its return for the first time in two years due to Covid, and now in its 30th year, the competition invites artists from all over Scotland and at all stages in their creative practice to enter their artwork. Starting as the ‘Christmas Extravaganza’, three decades on it has become a key event in the Scottish arts calendar.

This year’s show attracted more than 360 artworks in a variety of media which were considered, with 199 pieces being finally selected for the exhibition in Forfar’s Meffan Museum & Art Gallery.

Sylvia Tarvet with her work, ‘On her shoulders’.

As well as showcasing their work in this open exhibition, each of the selected artists had the opportunity for their work to be chosen to become part of a public collection.

Kirsty Hunter, ANGUSalive chief executive, said: “Through the contribution of artists who have been awarded prizes at the Winter Shows, Angus is continuing to develop a vibrant collection of art to be treasured for future generations. This is a really important role of this type of exhibition.

“The ANGUSalive purchase prize was split between two pieces, Sylvia Tarvet’s oil on woodblock and ceramic piece titled ‘On her shoulders’.

Sylvia said: “It’s always a privilege to have work selected for the show. Receiving the purchase prize is a huge honour.”

Carol Sinclair shared the ANGUSalive purchase prize which she won with her porcelain vessels ‘Inside outside’.

She said: “I’m totally delighted to have been awarded this, and especially pleased that ceramics are recognised as an art form that can be appreciated by all.”

There were also joint winners of this year’s Colin Dakers Memorial prize.

Fiona Clasen’s pastel drawing ‘Vase, emerging’ was purchased for the collection along with ‘Summer Garden’, a printmaking linocut by Lesley Balfour.

Lesley said: “It’s an amazing surprise, I’m absolutely delighted to have been awarded a prize.”

The exhibition is free of charge and runs Thursday to Saturday up to January 7. Further information can be found at www.angusalive.scot.