The event was at the Laurieton United Services Club over the Christmas and new year holidays.

The Hastings Valley Fine Art Association has announced the winners of what is always a high point in their exhibition and event calendar.

Judging was carried out by Silva Vaughan Jones.

LUSC manager Robert Dwyer was on hand to present the awards.

There was a change in conditions this year with all four categories open to artists of the Mid-North Coast from Great Lakes in the south to Woolgoolga in the north and west to Gloucester.

Another change to the event was an increase in prize money with first place in each category awarded $1000 cash, a trophy and certificate.

Second place was awarded $250 cash and a certificate.

Despite the healthy competition created by the new entry conditions, HVFAA members continued to dominate in the placegetters.

Section A (Oil and Acrylic) was won by Judy Jelsma with ‘Over the Hills’.

According to judge, Silva Vaughan Jones, the work was an iconic Australian landscape handled beautifully, a joyful work in complementary colours blue/orange, red/green, loose and fresh. The eye travels well through the composition. Colour has carrying power. Effective creation of distance by scale.

Jill Cairns earned second place with ‘Swimming Hole Memories”.

Silva Vaughan Jones said this had a lovely feeling of movement and water, was a difficult composition resolved well, loose fast brush strokes, complex background kept free.

Dorothy Taylor won Highly Commended with ‘Tour-de-Wauchope’ and Susan Burrows and Vanessa Newell earned a Special Mention.

Section B (Watercolour) was won by Roger Speaight with ‘Lake Innes 2’.

Silva Vaughan Jones said Roger used stunning watercolour technique, success was achieved through simplicity, and the work was evocative, atmospheric and gentle.

Second place also went to Roger Speaight with ‘Falling Down – Dangarsleigh 2’ which the judge said was a well-balanced composition and not overworked.

Vicki Symes won the Highly Commended with her highly realistic depiction of ‘Geese’.

In Section C (Pastels) The Joan Newton Award First place went to Terri Maddock with ‘Waiting’ which Silva Vaughan Jones said was a lovely atmospheric interior with figure.

She also said there was an excellent use of light and a perfect use of the medium with texture enhancing the composition.

Second place went to Jo Ernst with ‘Pete’.

The judge’s comments were: “bold fast lines with loose drawing achieved portrait of character, fresh and competent”.

Bernice Daher achieved Highly Commended with her depiction of ‘Holiday Fishing’.

Section D (Mixed Media) was won by Carol Simons with ‘Outer Layer’.

Silva Vaughan Jones described this as a lovely Australian abstract creating bark qualities tonal work in analogous palette, warm and evocative.

She also said the artist was not afraid to go non-figurative.

Second place was achieved by Jen Andrews with The Alley Cat.

This was described by the judge as a lovely street scene, creating great atmosphere, complexities resolved well with good handling of perspective.

Bernice Daher was presented with her second Highly Commended with ‘Turkish Delight’.

The People’s Choice award this year was won by Vondee with ‘Sand Dunes Lighthouse Beach’.

Congratulations to all the winners and to all the hard-working artists involved.

The HVFAA thanked their generous sponsors.

To enjoy more original paintings, Hastings Fine Art Gallery is located in the grounds of the Maritime Museum at 2 William Street, Port Macquarie.

The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Entry is free.

Go to the HVFAA website for more information.