Run by the Rotary Club, who took over its organisation nine years ago, and judged by artist Andrew McIlroy, the show exhibited the works of both those who simply dabble in art, as well as works completed by established artists. 

And for the second year in a row, Bullarto landscape artist Phillip Edwards has taken out “Best In Show” with his depiction of Mount Buffalo, Shaping A New Season. The mixed media watercolour work took an estimate of 10 hours to complete. 

Edwards has had a good year, being awarded in the Kennedy Art Prize in Adelaide and Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. 

Edwards has been painting since he was 14. He took a hiatus for a while, during which time he created a lot of sculpture, before he took up painting again. He has been painting seriously for the past two years.

“I try to paint for at least two or three hours everyday,” he said. “If you want to try to make a living out of it, you have to work really hard. I am always working on something new.”

He said he created Shaping A New Season from a photograph, although he was becoming more interested in painting en pleine aire, French for painting outside.