ILMINSTER Arts Centre opened its annual open art competition this week.

The event celebrates the diverse talents of established and emerging artists from the South West and beyond.

The exhibition, showcasing 90 carefully selected works from over 200 entries, is now open to the public and will run until July 19.

The aim of this annual event is to highlight the creative achievements of artists in the South West.

The exhibition features a wide array of artistic expressions, encompassing various mediums and styles. An esteemed judging panel, comprising Stewart Geddes, Anna Morris, Christine Ackerman, Mike Lanigan, and Art Centre Manager Bryony Tidball, undertook the challenging task of selecting the pieces for this year’s exhibition.

£750 in prize money was awarded across several categories, recognizing outstanding talent and creativity.

Overall Winner is Hannah Shrubb - Dried Gladioli (from Chard Junction).

Runners Up were Hannah Scott - Gathering Space (from Dartmouth), Zee Jones - Everything's Coming Up Roses (from Chardstock Axminster), Emerging Artist Award: Hajnal Vegh - Morning Tranquillity (a student from UCW Weston-super-Mare)

Highly Commended Artists were Michael Calver - Café de Foy (from Tiverton), Natasha Seed - West Shore (from Gloucestershire), Ashar - Late Summer on Them There Hills (works out of Langport) and Clare Schmidt Norris - Crossing Paths (from Culmstock).

Judge Stewart Geddes shared his insights on the winning pieces. He said: "I was particularly impressed by the ethical dimension to Hajnal's work, and its ambition and dynamism."

"Hannah Shrubb's Dried Gladioli showed technical virtuosity, and also a clear sense of design. I loved the way the flower and stalk forms occupy the rectangle, creating strong negative shapes as well as the presence of the forms themselves."

The exhibition is free to visit and open from Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am to 3pm. For more information visit their website.