AN ISLE of Wight cafe and arts centre has announced the winners of its two-week shortlist exhibition.

Monkton Arts, located on East Street, in the ‘Monkton Village’ area of Ryde, launched an open arts prize back in June.

The exhibition was open to Island-based artists who could submit art of any medium and topic.

More than 150 submissions were received, making the shortlisting of 50 pieces for a two-week exhibition an unenviable challenge for the panel of four Island experts.

The shortlist exhibition ran in the Acons Gallery at Monkton Arts from Tuesday, August 3, culminating in a final awards ceremony on Saturday, August 21.

It featured live music from Ruby Howard, winner of the Island’s Got Talent competition.

Prizes were gifted from a range of sponsors, including a £1,000 first prize gifted from local supporters of the arts and awarded to Andrew Hird ­— a local contemporary figurative landscape painter and Ryde artist.

Humbled to receive the first prize, Andrew said: “Monkton Arts has been an amazing asset to the local community and is a fantastic platform for local artists."

The Second prize of £500 was sponsored by Indigo Graphics and awarded to Steve Baxter, a retired art teacher, for his colourful plasterwork tiles produced during lockdown.

The third prize, sponsored by Rapanui, was awarded to Jo James of Woven Focus who is excited about using the vouchers to ethically source promotional materials to further promote her work.

Cllrs Michael Lilley and Charles Chapman were among the attendees on the evening.

Visitors were also asked to vote for their personal favourite toward the people’s choice prize of £200, sponsored the Arty Card Company, and a month as 'Artist of the Month’ in the lounge cafe.

This was won by Elaine Saunders for her colourful feltwork fantasy, flowers and fritillaries.

The competition is set to become an annual event in the Isle of Wight arts calendar.

For more information, and to get involved, visit www.monktonarts.co.uk