Paint the town with Buxton Spa Prize

Artist Rob Wilson won the Buxton Spa Prize in 2015 with this image of The Crescent, who will win it in 2016?

Established in 2014, the prize attracts and encourages artists of all ages and abilities to paint the town in the open air (en plein air) during May and June 2016.

The competition is intended to raise the profile of artists and their work, and further enhance Buxton’s national reputation as a centre for arts and culture.

It is already generating significant national interest, with more than 100 artists entering in 2015 - double the number involved in the first year.

There are four categories: the Children’s Prize; the Buxton Spa Teen Prize for ages 11-17; the open category, which has a top prize of £5,000, and cash awards for second and third place; and finally, the sketchbook prize, with a cash prize of £2,000.

The prizes are once again funded by the Trevor Osborne Charitable Trust, with vouchers for art materials available in the younger categories.

The judging panel features respected artists Ken Howard, Harold Riley and Peter Brown, plus Penelope Lyttelton, chair of Visit England.

Artists can register online from April 1 to May 15, and must visit Buxton in May to draw one of 40 locations by ballot and have their board or canvas stamped.

The deadline for submissions is June 24, and selected entries will be exhibited at The Green Man Gallery from July 1 to August 14.

For further details, visit www.buxtonspaprize.co.uk.