The winner of the third Holt Festival Art Prize was announced on Saturday night by actor John Hurt.

Francesca Perkins who lives in Weybourne North Norfolk was announced the winner of the third annual Holt Festival Art Prize by Mr Hurt for her oil on board painting Taking Water Home.
 
The Award was judged by, Amanda Geitner, Chief Curator at The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, the art adviser Nic Tyler alongside Chancellor of The Norwich University of the Arts and former art student at Grimsby Art School and Central St Martin’s John Hurt CBE.

 
The judges initially selected a short list of 35 from 300 entries from all over the UK before choosing the winner from that list. John Hurt commented ‘This is a very painterly work by a very fine artist who is undoubtedly going to increase in stature. I mean I expect her reputation to grow and spread, her work is already of the very highest standard.’
 
Francesca said ‘I’ve never won anything since I was 14 when I won a watercolour prize so this is a real thrill. It’s a great honour to have my painting chosen by such a knowledgeable and influential panel, it makes me want to paint even more than I already do’.
 
Norfolk born Francesca was schooled at Greshams before attending Camberwell College of Art and Design where she realized that painting was her first love. She subsequently went to The Old Guildhall in East London (now London Metropolitan University) from 2005-2008 and worked in London’s Bernard Jacobson Gallery before returning to Norfolk where she has been painting for 3 years at her studio near Barny. Along with two friends she founded the Coastal Collective exhibition at Wiveton Hall where she shows her work each year, and has also exhibited at London’s Royal Academy and Affordable Art Fair.
 
International Art Appraiser James Glennie who has organised the competition since it began in 2012 added ‘I was once again delighted at the standard of entries which really does seem to get higher each year. Francesca is a very popular winner locally but I must stress that our very experienced judges were absolutely unanimous in their choice.’

 
Francesca received a cheque for £1,500 and the painting will be exhibited at The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art in the Autumn. The painting was purchased by an unnamed buyer before being named as winner.
 
Taking Water Home and the full shortlist including photography, oil paintings, watercolours, bronze cast and more can be viewed throughout the Holt Festival (until 27 July) at The Auden Theatre foyer in Holt until 27 July, 11am – 5pm.
www.holtfestival.org 

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