Artist Liam Wales wins People’s Choice Award at Paint Out Norwich 2014

People’s Choice Award Winner – Liam Wales

The People’s Choice Award, £250 of arts materials sponsored by Norwich Art Supplies of St Benedict’s Street, has been won by artist Liam Wales.

Liam received an overwhelming share of the combined Exhibition and online vote for his works of art created at Elm Hill, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Castle, and Norwich Market.

The last one he completed in about half the 3 hours allotted! When members of the public realised that these were Plein Air works being done under almost exam conditions, yet amidst the challenges of the elements, public engagement, changing scenes, etc., many were amazed at the quality and range of the work. Indeed one went so far as to comment:

“it is the best art event in Norfolk this year”

Yorkshire-born Liam, now residing in Highgate, London, says that, for him:

 “…the most useful lesson in learning how to draw was watching my father draw. He taught me how to look at things carefully. As an architect he had a quick fluid line which I have gratefully adopted and adapted… As well as drawing for my own pleasure, I enjoy a diversity of commissions from country house portraits to illustrating fashion collections. I often use watercolour, but prefer my simpler line work. I try to draw with a loose line that roams over the page, editing and describing as I go, with a keen eye for any quirky details. I like to work on the spot and spontaneity is important. I live in London next to Hampstead Heath. Its swimming ponds, woods and open countryside, are an oasis of calm surrounded by a jostling metropolis. It is this mix that I relish in my drawings – nature juxtaposed with the man made.”

Liam Wales – Paint Out Art

Liam produced two works of art as pen, ink and charcoal, another as mixed media, and one as pen only.

He began on Wednesday 22 October, in the morning, at Elm Hill, continuing in the afternoon on to Norwich Cathedral, where he chose a viewpoint within and of the cloisters.

On Thursday 23 October he had Norwich Castle and the Market as locations, at the former electing to use mixed media for his only coloured art work portraying a view of Norwich from the Castle’s perspective.

As many as 5,000 visitors flocked to the Exhibition of 110 works of art at the Norwich Cathedral Hostry between 23 October and 2 November to witness the finished pieces by the 28 selected participating artists across 7 local iconic and/or historic locations at Paint Out Norwich 2014. Hundreds of them also participated in the People’s Choice Award vote, which Liam has deservedly won.

EDP Coverage

Liam made the Eastern Daily Press (EDP) paper on the morning of 4 November and fuller coverage in their online EDP24 edition.

One comment said:

“I am deeply envious of people who have this talent to draw or paint good pictures. Perhaps we could take the whole GoGo Gorillas initiative a stage further next year. Instead of putting gorillas around the city, for one year put up large-scale weatherproof prints of local city scenes by local people. “

Norwich Art Supplies

We are grateful to Norwich Art Supplies for sponsoring the People’s Choice Award at Paint Out Norwich 2014. Norwich Art Supplies were established in 1996 in the heart of Norwich, and pride themselves on offering a wide range of artistic supplies including several makes of oils, acrylics, watercolours, pastels, papers, print making supplies as well as drawing materials, sketch books, watercolour blocks Indian inks, gilding materials, brushes, solvents and many more. Check out their website.

Pauline Goldsworthy, co-owner of Norwich Art Supplies, said:

“We were flattered to be part of the first Paint Out Norwich
event, it is such an exciting idea for Norwich. We have had such a lot of great feedback in the shop, to say how engaging it has been and how lovely it was to see the artists at work, it has really grabbed the public’s interest and we would be very pleased to support it again in the future”.