While the riverfront outside was grey and misty with rain, inside the Galleries it was warm and welcoming, heralding the ‘A Touch of Red’ theme, inspired by shared French connections among several artists.

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Crimsons and carmines, cherries and clarets, vermillions and scarlets were swatched, swathed and speckled throughout more than 60 new artworks, covering a myriad of techniques and subjects.

Prizes were awarded in two categories, ‘3D’ and ‘2D’, with all of the winners and runners-up genuinely surprised to be recognised for exercising their artistic passions.

‘Red Readers’, by Jacqui Bright, was the winner of the 3D category, depicting a long-eared hare in red spectacles.

“I like doing animals, and have always been for trying things out, getting the ears to stand up was a degree of difficulty – they tend to flop during the firing (of the clay),” Jacquie told NOTA.

‘Rhett Rooster’, by Hannah Matilda, took the 3D Highly Commended prize, a riotously colourful sculpture of one of the artist’s favourite subjects.

“Rhett Butler was a real rooster, but with ceramics, you just never know what will come out of the kiln,” Hannah explained, pointing out some other features that, though not planned, only added to the end result.

‘Red Woman’ by Anita Wood won the 2D category, an outline borne of one of the Galleries’ life drawing groups, and the result of several complex layers of physical and digital manipulation.

“Life drawings are my thing, as well as photography, so I photographed my original sketch, photoshopped colours and layers without altering the original drawing, then printed on high-quality 100 percent cotton paper using a giclee print that carries ten colours, and framed it myself,” Anita explained.

‘Waters Edge’ by Helen Sillar took the 2D Highly Commended, another complex, layered approach that allowed the artist to try out new ideas and techniques.

“It uses embossing, seaweed prints, and a combination of techniques to create a layered picture – which could have just as easily not come out at all, but it worked,” Helen happily described her process.

The exhibition opening was a huge success, drawing in dozens of holidaying visitors who were thankful for the colourful surroundings on a drab day outside, further enticed by a clever questionnaire that the Galleries members put together to encourage them to enjoy every corner of the exhibition.

By Thomas O’KEEFE