2025 Awards Winners
SUPREME AWARD - Sponsored by Impressions Art Supplies and Framing, Richmond, Nelson Pine and Tasman National Art Awards. Additionally the Award winner received a subscription to NZ Artist Magazine and an artist spot.
Pauline Watts from Collingwood - ‘Kaituna River’
Comments from the judges
This work stands out for its confident use of varied brushstrokes and the way colour relationships are handled so deftly. The reflections drift in and out of abstraction, yet the scene remains recognisably a landscape, evoking both the feeling of a place and the sense of being immersed in it. There’s a sophistication in how the artist balances detail with atmosphere with many elements at play, but they come together seamlessly to create a unified and compelling whole.
The piece draws on the language of post-impressionism but reinterprets it in a distinctly contemporary way. It has an immediate visual appeal, beautiful and inviting at first glance, yet it rewards longer looking, revealing complexity and depth without ever becoming overwhelming.
MERIT AWARDS x 5 - Sponsored by Golden, Liquitex, Winsor & Newton, Dale Rowney, Accessman and The Tasman National Art Awards additionally each winner received a subscription to NZ Artist Magazine and an artist spot.
Bernadette Ballantyne from Morrinsville - ‘The Fall’
Comments from the judges
What stands out in this work is Bernadette’s choice to capture the flower at the moment of wilting, highlighting not just its form but the passage of time itself. It speaks to the ephemeral nature of flowers, their beauty not only at their peak, but also in their decline. The colour palette reinforces this sense of fragility, resisting idealisation and instead embracing honesty. The composition is equally compelling: the interplay between foreground and background blooms, and the echoing of shapes across the canvas, draws the eye around the work. It takes real skill to transform something often seen as imperfect or unattractive, a dying flower into an image of striking beauty.
Rob Foote from Dunedin - ‘Sunday Sermon at Fraser's Gully’
Comments from the judges
This painting beautifully captures the effect of dappled light, with a tree-tunnel quality that instantly evokes the memory of walking through a similar place. The composition balances detail with areas of negative space that feels both natural and intentional. There’s a hint of Fragonard’s ‘the swing’ in the rhythm that’s created in this work. The subtle, sepia-toned palette is handled with great sensitivity, the artist holds back from going too dark or too light, striking a delicate balance that takes considerable skill to achieve.
Liz Hegarty from Nelson - ‘Morning in the Sleeper Carriage’
Comments from the judges
This painting captures a strong and immediate sense of emotion. There’s a quality of adolescence within it, an honesty and vulnerability. The contrast between the detail of the background and the textured treatment of the figure creates depth and tension, allowing each element to enhance the other. The placement of the figure, set slightly to the side and with a subtle tilt of the head, draws the viewer in and creates a sense of intimacy. The expression feels authentic and unforced, an achingly real moment that is rare and difficult to achieve in portraiture. The artist has captured not just the likeness of a young person, but the very essence of adolescence itself.
Nicola Warner from Auckland - ‘Heatwave’
Comments from the judges
The colours in this work evoke the memory of summer, with the sense of heat radiating off surfaces captured beautifully. The mark-making is especially engaging, contrasting bold, thick lines with finer, scratch-like gestures that further enhance the impression of shimmering warmth.
There’s an atmospheric quality reminiscent of a Hopper painting—the work makes you feel the sun on your back. It radiates a quiet joy, and you can’t help but feel uplifted when looking at it.
Virginia Watson from Nelson - ‘The Estuary Smiles’
Comments from the judges
The limited palette in this work creates a strong sense of cohesion, which is especially effective given the angular and sometimes jarring forms within the composition. Virginia has captured the essence of a place without being strictly representational—the piece hovers between realism and geometric abstraction. Different elements bounce off one another, guiding the eye through the painting: the rocks in the foreground echo the mountains behind them, while a sequence of smaller rocks on the right continues this visual pathway. Similarly, the bird in the foreground connects to the pair of birds to the left, creating a dynamic balance across the canvas. It’s a thoughtful and compelling composition that rewards extended viewing.
ART FOCUS CATEGORY AWARD - LANDSCAPE - sponsored by Olive Estate and Tasman National Art Awards
- additionally the Award winner received a subscription to NZ Artist Magazine and an artist spot.
Nicholas Haytor from Napier - ‘Soft Sand of Summer’
Comments from the judges
The composition of this work is beautifully considered—delicately imbalanced in a way that feels natural and dynamic. The range of blues is particularly striking; subtle yet complex, and the textured surface catches the light in ways that add further depth and nuance. Up close, the figures verge on abstraction, but from a distance they resolve into something convincingly real. This shifting perception enriches the experience of the work, making it both engaging and contemplative.
ART FOCUS MEDIUM AWARD - ACRYLIC - sponsored by Emma McCashin.
- additionally the Award winner received a subscription to NZ Artist Magazine and an artist spot.
Reece Shuker from Tauranga - ‘Conversations with My Mother’
Comments from the judges
This painting carries a sense of unease, from the unusual green tones to the absence of the mother figure- a silence that raises endless questions. The narrative feels strong yet deliberately ambiguous: is the mother gone, unheard, or transformed into the mysterious light radiating from the centre of the work?
What makes the painting so compelling is this tension between mystery and calm. While the subject matter unsettles, the colours, simplicity of form, and use of negative space create balance. It is unexpected, enigmatic, and deeply thought-provoking, an unexpected viewing!
NBS People’s Choice Award - Luane Brauner from Takaka - ‘Crow Hut’
