The Grosvenor Museum Open Art Exhibition

The Grosvenor Museum’s Open Art Exhibition returns for its 15th year when it officially opens on Sunday 9th February, following a private view on Saturday 8 February for invited guests.

The exhibition presents the best in contemporary art in the region.

Over 460 entries were received, and visitors can see 102 exhibits including paintings, drawings, textiles, photographs and ceramics.

The competition gives artists of all descriptions a chance to share their work, with prizes awarded by a panel of judges for first, second, and third place, and a Visitors’ Choice prize for the artwork that receives the most votes by public ballot, awarded at the end of the exhibition.

This year the judges - Jeremy Turner, University of Chester, India Hackett, Artist and Illustrator, Jessie Petheram, West Cheshire Museums and Declan Connolly, Open Eye Gallery.

Awarded:

First place winning £1,000 – Keepsake Comes to Life, by Sarah Wood (watercolour and gouache)

Second place winning £500 – Matter II, by Catherine Taylor Parry (mixed media)

Third place winning £250 – Interconnection, by Debbie Baxter (acrylic)

Highly commended are Ian McCullough; Janet Howkins; Alison Holt; Robert Jones; Jackie Stephens; Alan Edwards and Sophie Parr.

A Visitors’ Choice award will be decided by the visitors to the exhibition.

Councillor Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for a Fairer Future said:

“Many congratulations to all of the artists to The Open Art Exhibition and especially to this year’s winners. 

“I’d like to thank the judges and now it’s the turn of all the visitors to the exhibition to vote for their favourite exhibit to be awarded the Visitor’s Choice prize. I’d also like to thank Sykes Holiday Cottages, who are generously sponsoring this year’s Visitor’s Choice prize.”

The Peter Boughton First Prize is sponsored by the Grosvenor Museum Society in memory of Peter Boughton, who was Keeper of Art at the Museum and very sadly died in 2019 after a short illness.

Richard Hopkinson, Chair of the Society said:

“Peter was a wonderful ambassador for the Museum and for the visual arts in Chester with a vast knowledge of the city’s history and artists.  Peter started the Open Art Exhibition and was extremely enthusiastic to showcase the works of local living artists in the Grosvenor’s galleries. 

“Working with Peter, the Grosvenor Museum Society has donated over £160,000 for purchases and conservation of its collection.  It is very fitting that we should honour his contribution to the Museum by naming the first prize in his honour.”

The Grosvenor Museum Society is the ‘Friends’ body for Chester’s Museum and gallery.  It is entirely run by volunteers and works to improve and enhance every visitor’s experience of the gallery.

Entries were invited from artists over the age of 16 living and/or working in the North-West, North Wales, and Cheshire’s bordering counties.

There were two rounds of judging: the first to select entries; the second to select prize winners.

The exhibition opens to the public on 9 February until 31 August 2025.

Pictured - First prize - Keepsake Comes to Life.