Honey
Christine Neale

Coloured Pencils on Grafix drafting film

Summer Day at Tarr Steps
Mark Pitts

Oil on canvas panel

Brograve Mill
Teresa Clare Bingham

Photograph

Sunflowers
Lyndon Rutherford

Glass mosaic and coal

Greenbank Park Liverpool
Julia Reid

Acrylic on Canvas

Wisteria Wall
Alan Wilson

Oil on MDF Panel

No One Takes the Bins Out Quite Like You Do
Steve Hawker

Acrylic on Paper

Scottish Wildlife
Bernadette Duncan MBE

Acrylic on Canvas

Determined
Aileen Semple

Pastel

A Bigger Moment
Michael Moore

Acrylic on canvas

The King Leaves the Abbey
John Tordoff

Mixed media. Acrylic and Collage

Cornish Coastline
David Rose-Massom

Photography - Print

Wolf-Wool
Cindy-Lou Thompson

Needle Felted

Kiev Firefighter
Paul R Beasley

Acrylic on Canvas

Monica Archer - Introspection

Monica Archer - Company For Tea

Ruth Ashford - Evening Land And Sky

Teresa Clare Bingham - Beach Walk

Teresa Clare Bingham  - Sunset Swim

Stephen Bowers - Coastal Scene

Barbara Bridger - My Bottle Is A Watering Can

Kathryn Brown - 4 Generations Of Togetherness 

Sally Burnley - Brooding Presence

Frances Caldwell - Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall

Frances Caldwell - Sunset At Ilfracombe

Jacqueline Carr - Happy Days

David Coates - Sun Down At Sunny Sand

David Coates - Blustery Seabrook

Philip Dakin - Dave

Louise Davies Jones - Coronation Morning

Alice Dean - Delilah

Alice Dean - Céleste 

Una Dinning - Kubla Khan

Julie Dore - Dream

Julie Dore - Cornwall From My Memories 

Bernadette Duncan - Scottish Sea Life

Ellen Else - Flowers 

David Elsmore - Self Portrait

Glyn Fletcher  - River Winding Through The English Country Side

Robert Fordham - Morning Lillies

Robert Fordham - Bluebell And Beth - Coronation Special

Robert Fordham - A New Beginning

Robert Fordham - Last Rays Of The Sun

Jean Freeman - Inside My Head

Paul French - Training For The Big Day

Christine Garland - Blue Jay

Jennifer Grummert-Jones - Landscape #3

Grenville Harding - Rare Melanistic Ruderal Bumblebee

Steve Hawker - Little Green Frog

Steve Hawker - Tulips & Cake

Steve Hawker - Bowie Rewound

David Hooper - Lady In The Mist

Kevin Hopkins - Regeneration

Kevin Hopkins - Evie

Enfys Hughes  - Parc Caernarfon

Norma Laming - Sheila’s Vase

Norma Laming - The Day After The Coronation 

Janie Lee - Ruby

Janie Lee - Beth And Bluebell - From Rescue To Royalty

Geoff Lowe - Elephant In Misty Sunlight

Jane Mills - Ghosts Of Big Pit Colliery

Alexander Moffat - Mum

Brian Mullally  - Watching The Ballycastle Fancy Dress Parade

Marian Murphy - The Parlour

Christine Neale - Blue Jay

Pauline Prowse - I've Got This

Nick Rabson - The White Hart

Caroline Richardson - Pisces In Stone

Anita Robinson - Green Day

Jan Rogers - Ostrich Through The Camera

Khwaja Roomi - Hampstead Heath

Jennifer Stewart - The Optimist

Brian Taylor - Three Red Kites Feeding.

Simon Wood - Oglet Shore Beacon

Sandi Allen - Royal Safari

Sandi Allen - Jump

Martin Ansell - Ted And Nora

Paul Barfoot - Lucy

Linda Bartlett - Estuary

France Bauduin - Sentry Watch

France Bauduin - The Thinker

Roger Beck - Grandstand View, A Special Day

Judith Beeby - The River At Malmesbury

Lee Belcher - Sea And Sky

Jennifer Blenkinsopp - Dancers In The Wood

Simon Bond - James Naughton

Tim Bos - Rocks (Galloway Coast)

Tim Bos - Watching The Coronation

Louise Buckle - Bubbles

Julia Camden  - Captain Steampunk Mouse

Stephanie Campbell - Tuscan Colour

Naoko Carter - Alfresco

Raymond Cassidy - The Reverend Brown

Janet Cheary - Rainbow Spirit

Austin Clifford - Old Chestnuts 3

Pam Clubb - Empire

Michael Cox - Next In Line

Philip Cuttell Cuttell - Ukraine 2023

Lainy Dalzell - Her Majesty

Maeve Davies - Ageless Beauty

Alan Davies - Llangollen Morning.

Maeve Davies - My Sweet Lord

Maeve Davies - John

Franca Douglas  - Two Tulips

Stephen Ellis - Potsdamer Platz

Margaret Ellis - Christmas At Castleton

Linda Fraser - The Gap Between

Kate Gabriel - Golden Hour Hare

Danny Garrison  - Richmond Hill

Thomas Gifford - Forest Path.

Thomas Gifford - Hayling Island Sunrise.

Nicholas Granville - Padley Gorge Wedding

Pauline Guest - Iris

Pauline Guest - Mamma

Roy Haines-Young - For This Moment (River Trent)

Edward Hall - On The Afon Roe , Rowen

Sandra Haney - Alnmouth Beach

Maureen Hawkridge - Moonrise

Gill Higton - Time And Tide

Philip Hood - Garden In Menton

Andrea Hook - A Shadow Of My Former Self

Andrea Hook - Precious Metal

David Hopkins - Riaz

Kieth Hughes - Urban East End

Jan Husband - Our Green And Pleasant Land

Ian Irving - Shell Shock Ukraine 2023

Joan Jackson - Childbirth

Margaret James - Coronation Tea Party

Nicola Johnson - Hrh Acrylic Portrait Profile On Board (300dpi)

Celia Johnson  - Thoughtful Friem

Livia Jones - Denise's Vases

Maggie Jones - Winter Weather In Wales

Pat Keeler - Holiday Time

Maureen Lacey - Self Portrait From Quite A While Ago

Martin Lambert - Blackbrook. Shepshed

Markina Leon - Coronation Street Party

Mark Leveson - Wildflowers 3

Alec Lewis - Blue Lady

Aileen Logan - A Wild Day On Hadrian's Wall

Aileen Logan - In Roman Steps

Brenda Lyon - Breakfast With Charles

Michael Masson - The Merseyside Derby 70s

Albertus Mensinga - Stormy Night

Jane Montague - South Downs Soil

Michael Moore - A Bigger Moment

Beatrice Morton - Still Life

Debbie Nuttall - The Beauty Of Ma With Automatism

Angela O'Connell - Get In Touch With Your Glamourous Side

P Parnham - Portrait Of Paul

Joanna Payne - His Majesty King Charles Iii

Gary Peerless - Sanctuary -European Barn Owl

David Rigg - Robin Hood's Bay

Robert Rose - G40rove Woods On November Afternoon

Marina Rule - Coronation House

David Sankey - Ann

David Sankey - Rainy Night On Broadway

David Scott - Defender Of Faiths

Heather Sheldrick - Ne'er Cast A Clout Till T'may Be Out

Robert Sidery  - Flamenco

Linda Smith - “Fastnet”

Helen Stanfield - Queen Elizabeth Ii

Lesley Stevens - My Ol' Dad

Roy Summerfield-Shapiro  - Oranges

Ken Taylor - Judy, Model At Sarum Studio

Nancy Taylor - Ram

Ken Taylor - Portrait Copied From Sir Thomas Lawrence's Painting Of Pope Pius Vii At Windsor Castle

Paul Thomas - Storm Over The Isle Of Sky

Christine Tierney - Bird In Tapestry Garden

Stuart Todhunter - Placa Sant Agusti Vell - Barcelona

Tony Topley - The Basket Weaver

Tony Topley - Family Group

Tony Topley - Lady With Pig, Spain

Christine Tuncelli - Mary’s Lilies

James Usher - Three Day Millionaire

Ros Wass-O’Donnell  - Friends Relaxing

Ros Wass-O’Donnell  - The Skinny Dipper

Tina Watkins - Michael Sheen

Tina Watkins - What A Laugh!

Petra Wend - Portrait Of Antonia

Petra Wend - Sunlight Reflections

Lin West - Castle In The Mist

Paul Wheeldon  - Betty

Dora Williams - Love Snails

Nigel Williams - Source Of The Tawe

Abigail Winfield - Time Management

Pete Witcomb  - Still Life With Teapot

Non Worrall - Every Which Way

Christine Neale

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in a tranquil and peaceful old village called Wiggenhall St Germans, in the heart of the fens and close to the beautiful North Norfolk coast. The area has attracted many landscape artists as it  is renowned for its big skies and beaches besides being home to a wide ranging and diverse population of wildlife, especially birds.  I’m also fortunate enough to be close to Sandringham House with its incredible gardens and church; surrounded by lots of forested land to walk in. 

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

Although I’ve always loved art it wasn’t until the beginning of this year that I started to think of it as more than a casual pastime. I consequently purchased my first set of coloured pencils and watched a few videos before deciding to try using a photograph reference and drawing my own pictures.  I saw the King Lear Prizes advertised on social media and thought that it was a brilliant idea to attract the over 60s to participate in all forms of art.…..this encouraged me to enter my first ever competition! Sometimes being a certain age has its advantages!!! 

What inspired your work?

When I started using coloured pencils I was nervous of attempting any animal with long, curly fur!! Knowing this my daughter asked me to draw ”Honey” a long, curly haired spaniel!  Honey is owned by the grandparents of my son-in-law and is approaching 14 years old and still gives them a lot of love and comfort. This picture will be gifted to them at Christmas. It took many hours to complete and I was inspired by the many colours in her coat. I absolutely loved doing this picture and long, curly fur is definitely not as scary now! 

Mark Pitts

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I was born and live in Rubery, just south of Birmingham close to the Lickey and the Waseley Hills. I have happy memories of growing up around this area. I retired in September from working at Land Rover, Solihull for 29 years. I now have more time to pursue my hobbies, which include Masters swimming, pencil and pastel drawing and obviously painting.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear Prizes after seeing an advert on Facebook under the heading "Things that may be of interest to you." I was in the process of finishing the painting and thought why not? So I entered.

What inspired your work?

The inspiration came from a photo I'd taken while staying at our caravan in Somerset. We really enjoy walking in Exmoor and the surrounding area, I take photographs hoping to capture something worthy of painting. I'd seen a few paintings of Tarr steps, all were looking at the bridge from the side and I thought this angle was different with the trees used as a natural frame for the bridge and the scene on the other side of the river.

Teresa Clare Bingham

Tell us a bit about where you live?

Having always lived in Warwickshire, including Stratford-upon-Avon, I now live with my husband on the outskirts of the market town of Nuneaton. We bought our current home two years ago as a renovation project.

Enthusiastically I said at the time of purchase, “it’s never too late to renovate.” Two years on, and we are still renovating.

The large overgrown garden, also part of the project, continues to be a challenging work in progress.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered King Lear Prizes as it was an opportunity to see if my photography was worth a second look.

Now, I am absolutely delighted to discover my photograph of Brograve Mill has been shortlisted in the ‘Beginner Art’ category.

What inspired your work?

The inspiration for my work was the Norfolk landscape.

I’ve loved the large skies and stunning scenery of the area, since childhood, having had many lovely holidays on the North Norfolk coast.

During a recent visit, while walking the footpath alongside the waterway, Waxham New Cut, with my husband, and our golden retriever, I was able to stroll and enjoy the sounds of nature, see the beauty of the flat land and imagine the backstory of the dilapidated mill across the water.

I hope my photograph of the waterway and the derelict Brograve Mill capture the peaceful simplicity of a moment in time.

Lyndon Rutherford

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in Killingworth, North Tyneside, about 7 miles from the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne and have been in this region all my life.  I worked in the North East mining industry for over 40 years.  As a coal preparation engineer, I covered most of the Northumberland and Durham coalfields.  This part of my career ended with the closure of Ellington Colliery in  2005.  I continued to work on coal quality for Lynemouth Power Station, until its conversion to biomass in 2017.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I developed an interest in water colours and later in stained glass. The latter and a gift of boxes of glass from an emigrating fellow glass artist led to a surfeit of smaller pieces of glass which I made into a mosaic.  Many friends and neighbours admired my earlier work and said it deserved a wider audience. But where to begin? The King Lear Prizes seemed like an ideal opportunity to dip my toe in the water.

What inspired your work?

After creating an external screen, inspired by the book ‘Masquerade’, I looked for inspiration closer to home.  This series, ‘The Last Seam’, has been informed by my interest and knowledge of the work that went on under our feet while life continued above.

Sunflowers is one of a series of five mosaics depicting the contrast between activities above and below ground in the Great Northern Coalfield.  The mosaics are constructed from local coal while some of the glass used originated from the Hartley and Co Sunderland site.

Julia Reed

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I grew up in Carlisle in the sixties and came to Liverpool to study English and French - I thought the shops here were fab!  55 years later I’m still here in this wonderful, vibrant city.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear Prizes because friends encouraged me to do so.  Also, I love Shakespeare.

What inspired your work?

The inspiration for my painting Greenbank Park was that it is my local park - Liverpool is full of great parks and green spaces - situated at the bottom of my road. It has provided a community hub during the turmoils we’ve all faced over the past few years.

Alan Wilson

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in Marchwood which is village situated between Southampton water and the New Forest a beautiful part of the country near Beaulieu, Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst all of which are within easy reach. 

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear Prizes having read about it on the internet. Being interested in art particularly and recently, photo realistic oil painting, I saw it as an opportunity to get some useful feedback on the standard and quality of my work. I never dreamt it would be shortlisted. 

What inspired your work?

I was interested in painting this scene from a photograph my wife took when we were spending time with family celebrating her birthday at Nailcote Hall Hotel Golf and Country Club, Berkswell Warwickshire. She is enthusiastic about beautiful flowering plants, and I subsequently saw it as an opportunity to paint it for her as a gift. She was delighted with it and suggested I submitted it to King Lear.

Steve Hawker

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in the ancient and beautiful city of York. The city is vibrant, full of history and tourists, and as a bonus is surrounded by fantastic countryside in the form of the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, the Howardian Hills and the Yorkshire Wolds.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

My Art Class Tutor suggested I consider entering the competition and I thought it would be a good experience and a great opportunity.

What inspired your work?

I am inspired by the things I see around me, but perhaps mostly by as what my wife describes as my ‘quirky sense of humour’.

Bernadette Duncan MBE

Tell us a bit about where you live?

After retiring from a busy full time career, I settled in the lovely small town of Newburgh in Fife, Scotland. We are lucky to live with a view over the beautiful river Tay, with its reed beds, wildlife, an ever changing landscape, colourful days and amazing sunsets. The area is well known for its artists and we are lucky to have the North Fife Open Studios to visit each year. 

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

Being retired I was able to join a local small amateur art group for inspiration and to learn new skills. Some friends suggested I should exhibit my work but with only a small audience locally I thought an online presence may be worth a try. I was very much encouraged by the King Lear competition and just decided to give it a go! 

What inspired your work?

My dot painting is inspired by a visit to Australia, in particular to Bond University, where they hold the largest collection of Australian indigenous art. It is stunning work with beautiful bright colours, which I love, and it inspired me to try out that style of painting but representing Scotland wildlife.

Aileen Semple

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in Drymen which is a small village near Loch Lomond in Scotland. It is a beautiful part of the world and very inspiring for creativity. 

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear Prizes as I saw it advertised and thought it was great concept (for the more mature ☺️) to showcase work and also demonstrate that you don’t have to be young to show imagination fun creativity and innovation. 

What inspired your work?

I’ve always loved images of water and underwater, the distortion and colours it produces. I paint lots of dog portraits for friends so decided it would be fun to combine the 2 together. 

Michael Moore

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in the south of Hampshire, a short walk from The Solent and views across to The Isle of Wight. The scenery here is beautiful, whether it’s the sea, the arable areas or The New Forest. Over the years, my career in education took me and my wife right across the south of England, but we have finally retired to Gosport and I am painting again full time.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear Prizes for a couple of reasons. Firstly, after an hiatus of over 30 years, I have been painting again in earnest for the last five. It’s time, my friends tell me, to share with a wider audience.

Secondly, it’s a way of helping me overcome feelings of ‘imposter syndrome’ and have my art compared to those who are currently more established and recognised than myself.

What inspired your work?

The city holds both a fascination and an intimidation for me. Retrieving the source imagery and the subsequent act of painting, explore, express and appease these emotions.

Distorted reflections comprise my main trope. They are particularly appealing to me as a metaphor for painting itself, because they are simultaneously on and through the surface at the same time.

Just as a science fiction film can draw you in and be engrossing and believable while bearing no relation our own environment; I want my paintings to represent a believable space, but not one that simply mimics reality.

John Tordoff

Tell us a bit about where you live?

 I have been living with my partner, here in central Cambridge UK for the past fourteen years. Our street is made up of terraced houses built around 1850. I am fortunate to have a spacious studio up on the third floor. My rule is to try and paint every day, though having just past my eighty fifth birthday, my output is not what it was.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

Being an ex actor I am a natural show off and will jump at any opportunity to exhibit my work. Hearing about the competition through the grapevine of the internet, I thought ‘Oh, yes!  I’ll have a go at that.’

What inspired your work?

The reason I chose to paint the recent Coronation goes back many years, to 1953. Then, aged fifteen, I painted the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second. Now, seventy years later and still an ardent Royalist, I had no choice. I simply had to do it again.

David Rose-Massom

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in the beautiful county of Cornwall, that's the pointy toe bit on the map of the UK. The light here is clean and beautiful and it has drawn many artists to the region. Every day is a different view of this wonderful landscape and every day is a joy living here on the north coast of the county at the small seaside town of Bude.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear competition because the standard of previous winners was so high I felt it would challenge me and my work which means reaching the short list is even more exciting.

What inspired your work?

My photography inspires me on a daily basis, I am disabled with a spinal condition and my cameras have the best pain-killing effect of all. I forget I have physical restrictions when out shooting as I am so wrapped up in my subjects be they human or landscape. My partner has a huge job keeping me away from the stunning cliff edges so I can get a better angle. With the landscapes and seascapes mixed with the amazing light I cannot fail to get inspired on an almost daily basis. More of my work can be found on my Instagram #davidrosemassom 

Cindy-Lou Thompson

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in the Lincolnshire countryside near Skegness with my husband in a little bungalow.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear prizes because it was a creative arts competition for older people and I also wanted to show that needle felting can be seen as an “art form” and not just a craft. Because it is a relatively new creative medium, it hasn’t yet been accepted as “art.” I hope to help change that.

What inspired your work?

Wolves are strong social animals, who live with adversity and persecution. I think they are magical creatures.

Paul R Beasley

Tell us a bit about where you live?

 I live in Moulton Northampton Northamptonshire.       

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I took part in the Chairman’s Prize section in 2020. The feedback inspired me to have another go.

What inspired your work?

I was due to go to Ukraine for a Christmas break, unfortunately the war broke out, my friend Tanya worked for the fire service in her home town of Cherkasy. Earlier this year I took part in (love freedom Ukraine) exhibition Milton Keynes.  The fire fighter was exhibited. 

On National fire fighters day in Ukraine this September, my painting was posted on their social media. This was a very proud moment for me.