Wokingham En Plein Air Art Competition Winners and Highlights
- Richard Young
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
The Wokingham En Plein Air Art Competition and Exhibition held on June 14 brought together 65 talented artists from all around the South of England who captured the essence of the town’s scenery and culture in fresh, outdoor artwork. This event showcased creativity, skill, and the joy of painting directly from life. Today, we share the winners’ list, highlight some of the best artwork and recognize the sponsors who made this event possible.
Registration
The day started early with artist registration between 8 and 9am in the R Young Art Gallery, where they received their lanyards, Goodie bag, drinking water and any guidance before they headed off to their chosen locations around the town and California Country Park, for which transportation was provided for those without.
Most artists originated from outside of Wokingham - Bracknell, Reading, Woodley, Yateley, Finchampstead, Lower Early, Winnersh, Arborfield, Bournmouth, Camberley, Cambridge, Corsham, Crowthorne, East Grinstead, Farnborough, Godalming, Hook, Newbury, Southcote, Spencers Wood, Staines, Thame and Twickenham!
Both gallery owners, Richard and Sarah, 5 staff members and 4 volunteer Wardens, A First Aider, Safety Officer and 2 photographers were all on hand to ensure there were no delays as the artists were eager to start creating!
Painting En Plein Air
Artists were painting En Plein Air in 34 locations across the town and nearby California Country Park from 9am to 3.30pm. Picturesque scenes to suit all preferences were available in our lovely Historic Market Town of Wokingham, all with an abundance of trees, being on the edge of luscious forestry - Parkland, lakes, ponds, historic and modern architecture, arcades, street cafés and of course pubs, which Wokingham is famous for.
Wokingham typically receives footfall of around 30,000+ visitors on an average June Sunday, hence artists painting in popular locations did receive a lot of inquisitive attention, ideal for those promoting their own art practice.
Maps showing all artist locations were available online and in the gallery in printed form for visitors and 100s were taken. Many visitors commented how they intended to make an Art Trail of it and do the tour!
The Exhibition
Artists headed over to Market Place next to the Town Hall at 3.30pm in readiness for the exhibition from 4pm to 6pm, where all artwork was lined up, labelled and visitors were able to purchase artwork that they had experienced the artists creating earlier.
Our Compare and Master of Ceremonies Paul kept everyone entertained and reminded visitors to vote for their favourite piece in the People's Choice Award.
Distinguished Guests
We were extremely honoured to be joined during the exhibition by several distinguished guests from Wokingham:
The Worshipful the Mayor of Wokingham Borough Cllr Rob Comber
The Mayor of Wokingham Town Cllr Alwyn Jones
The MP for Wokingham Clive Jones
Judges
4 judges, each having a widely different but equally artistic background were given the extremely difficult task of judging all completed artwork on display in the exhibition:
Richard Young & Sarah Awadallah - Gallery Owners |
Dr Hannah Lyons - Curator of University Art Collections - University of Reading |
Alice Carpenter - Head of Art Department, Wellington College |
13 artistic pieces were carefully shortlisted by the judges to be reviewed in further detail based upon the following criteria:
Sense of Place
Artistic Merit
Us of Light / Tone / Colour
Creativity and Impact
The Finalists
13 artists were shortlisted finalists and requested to bring their artwork to the stage:
Julia Dones
Kev Waite
Wendy Christoforato
Yulia Petrova
Kamil Woj
Peter Maguire
Sarah Hutchinson
Karen Oliva
Safina Osmanova
Carol Holliday
Richard Fairbrass
Susie Smith
Nasro Mo
The Winners
Winners were announced by our distinguished guests in reverse order:
People's Choice - Phillip Holding - Elms in June / Biro on Paper / 80cm x 60cm
Announced and the certificate presented by Wokingham's own People's Choice - Clive Jones MP
3rd Place - Sarah Hutchinson - Denmark Street / Acrylic on Canvas / 60cm x 50cm
Announced and the certificate presented by the Mayor of Wokingham Town Cllr Alwyn Jones
2nd Place - Julia Dones - Rose Street / Watercolour and Ink on Paper / 29.7cm x 21cm
Announced and the certificate presented by the Mayor of Wokingham Town Cllr Alwyn Jones
1st Place - Kamil Woj - A Walk of Howard Green / Oil on Linen / 91cm x 61cm
Announced and the certificate presented by the Worshipful the Mayor of Wokingham Borough Cllr Rob Comber
These artists stood out for their ability to translate the atmosphere and character of Wokingham’s outdoor spaces into compelling visual stories.
Photographic Galleries
Each gallery provides a unique perspective on the event, allowing art lovers to appreciate both the creative process and the community spirit.
Acknowledging Our Sponsors, Supporters, Staff, Volunteers, Etc...
The success of the Wokingham En Plein Air Art Competition and Exhibition depended greatly on the generosity of our sponsors and supporters. Their contributions helped cover prizes, event costs and promotion, ensuring a hugely successful event in every aspect.
Also, the efforts of our staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes and on the front line, to keep everything flowing smoothly and make the event such a memorable experience for everyone involved.
We extend our sincere thanks to:
Our Sponsors:
Our Supporters:
We encourage attendees and art enthusiasts to support these businesses as a way to give back to the community.
Our Staff - Andreea, Ben, Kaman, Lisa and Talia
Our Volunteers
Wardens - Melanie, Michelle and Brooke
First Aider - Sam
Photographer - Judite
Safety Officer - Warwick (Who incidentally clocked up over 38,000 steps during the event!!)
Stan Heatherington - Who kindly provided the microphone and speakers
And not forgetting our amazing Compare and Master of Ceremonies extraordinaire - Paul Metcalf
Their involvement reflects a strong commitment to fostering local arts and culture in Wokingham.
Winners / Finalists / Highlights On Display
Images of the Winning Artwork, Shortlisted Finalists and a selection of images from the event are on display in an empty retail unit on Market Place - Thanks Terry!
Tips for Aspiring En Plein Air Artists
If the competition inspired you to try painting outdoors, here are some practical tips to get started:
Choose the Right Location
Look for spots with interesting light and composition but also some shelter from wind or harsh sun.
Pack Light and Smart
Bring only essential supplies: a portable easel, a limited palette, brushes, and paper or canvas.
Work Quickly
Natural light changes fast. Focus on capturing the main shapes and colors rather than fine details.
Practice Observation
Spend time studying your subject before painting. Notice how shadows fall and colors shift.
Stay Comfortable
Dress appropriately for the weather and bring water and snacks to stay energized.
En Plein Air painting is as much about enjoying nature as it is about creating art. With practice, you’ll develop your own style and techniques.
Final Thoughts on the Wokingham En Plein Air Event
The Wokingham En Plein Air Art Competition and Exhibition demonstrated how art can connect people to their environment and community. The winners’ artwork and the photographic galleries reveal a vibrant celebration of outdoor painting. Thanks to the artists’ dedication and the sponsors’ support, this event was a great success and as everyone commented, a most welcome highlight in Wokingham’s cultural calendar.
If you missed this year’s event, explore the galleries linked above to experience the creativity and atmosphere. Consider participating in any future event to share your own vision of Wokingham’s landscapes.
For more details and updates, visit the official website at En Plein Air Adventures
If you would be interested in purchasing one of the artworks created, please get in touch with staff at the R Young Art Gallery
All feedback is welcome and if you visited the event, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
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