Look Who's a Winner!

Congratulations to Painting Forum member Derek Dohren on winning the Landscape category of Artists & Illustrators magazine's Artist of the Year competition for his Fossil Hunters painting. He's been keeping quiet about it (somehow!) but with the winning entries being on display at the Art In Action exhibition, he's shared the happy news with us.

"I can't believe it. ... I had sent a picture of the painting into the competition back in May purely on a whim. I got no feedback or even an acknowledgment and assumed that was that. I've never won anything before in my life so didn't expect much. When they phoned with the news I naturally assumed a mistake had been made."

But it's no mistake and in September Derek will be heading down to the 03 Gallery for an awards ceremony where he stands a chance to win the overall title of A&I Artist of the Year. His painting will be on exhibition at the gallery from 1 to 13 September 2009. An interview with him will be published in the next issue of Artists & Illustrators, which goes on sale 24 July. If you're not in the UK and would like to buy a copy, email A&I's subscriptions department on artists@subscription.co.uk.

Derek first showed the forum this painting in March (read discussion), then in May we celebrated with him when he sold it (read discussion), and now it's a competition winner (read discussion). Needless to say, there's great excitement all round!

• Where Can I Find Information on Art Competitions?

^{Painting "The Fossil Hunters", Acrylic on paper, 50x40cm © 2009 Derek Dohren}