News release
For immediate release
22 September 2008
‘THE ELMS, HOUGHTON CHARITY ART COMPETITION’ WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The winners of The Elms, Houghton Charity Art Competition were announced by Michael Hodges, MD of Broadway Heritage plc, on Saturday 20 September. Members of the Huntingdonshire Art Group and the St Ives Art Group, as well as members of the public, entered the summer competition and the standard of entries was extremely high. The winners received their prizes from Michael Hodges at The Elms, the stylish 23-apartment development in Thicket Road, Houghton on Saturday.
Dr Jennifer Horn of Needingworth, St Ives, took First Prize for her sensitive and detailed watercolour of the 1868 mansion house and the long-lived monkey puzzle tree in the foreground. She was presented a cheque for £200 and a further £250 to donate to her chosen charity Wood Green Animal Shelter.
The first Highly Commended prize went to Mrs Roseanne Smith of Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon – also a watercolourist - and the second Highly Commended went to Miss Amy Norris for her watercolour of the mansion house. Both receive a cheque for £100. Following the judging and while contacting the winners it was discovered that Amy Norris of Needingworth is the winner’s daughter – clearly artistic talent runs in the family!
The competition was judged by Michael Hodges and Nicholas Spurrier. Michael Hodges MRICS has a keen interest in art and commissioner of unique artworks for all Broadway developments, and Nick Spurrier is a keen art aficionado who grew up surrounded by art. Nick is the grandson of Steven Spurrier RA.
Michael Hodges said: “We were absolutely delighted with the high standard of all the entries in the competition. In a range of different styles and media, they were all beautifully executed and all captured the atmosphere of The Elms in unique ways.”
On receiving her First Prize, Jennifer Horn said: “I enjoyed taking part in the competition. The Elms is in such a lovely setting with such beautiful trees in the grounds. It is also interesting to see other artists' different interpretations of the same subject. I was absolutely delighted to be chosen as the winner; everyone likes to have their work appreciated by others, and with my daughter also winning a prize as a runner up, we are definitely celebrating!”
Roseanne Smith was very excited when she received the call regarding her prize. She said: “It was with sheer delight I [learned] of receiving a highly commended in your art competition, depicting the facade of The Elms, the magnificent Victorian mansion so superbly restored into apartments by Broadway Heritage plc.
For many years I have tutored various art forms to head injured people. Those presently receiving rehabilitation gained much pleasure from the fact that their art tutor has received such an honour, especially as this was my first attempt at architectural art.”
Janet Dutton entered the competition and is secretary of the Huntingdon Art Group: “I would just like to say that I'm sure that everyone from both the St Ives Art Group and Huntingdon Art Group, together with other local artists who entered the competition, would agree that it was a splendid opportunity to be invited to participate. Rarely do such opportunities arise, particularly for amateur artists, and for this reason there has been added interest from the local community in both The Elms development and the competition itself. The winners are to be congratulated and I would like to thank Broadway Heritage for encouraging and promoting local art by arranging this competition.”
The Elms Houghton is a recently completed development of 23 refurbished and new homes to rent and/or to purchase. The secluded development has beautifully landscaped mature gardens, and village amenities within a few minutes walk. Many of the apartments are generously proportioned and have been designed to maximise views over the magnificent ‘treescape’, which includes 11 Wellingtonias – as well as the previously mentioned monkey puzzle! The apartments are finished to the highest standards with designer kitchens and bathrooms. Broadway Heritage develops beautiful homes in stunning locations - always sensitive to the surroundings.
The winning artwork portraying The Elms is to be elegantly framed and then permanently displayed in the communal areas of the property.
For more information on The Elms visit www.theelmshoughton.com.
ENDS
For more media information contact Sally Davis 023 9266 1600 m 07802 436739
sally@theprdepartment.co.uk
Editor’s Notes
Huntingdonshire Art Group
Huntingdonshire Art Group was originally part of the Huntingdonshire Music and Arts Society formed in post war years by a band of enthusiastic and willing people devoted to the extension of the arts in the county.
Currently there are 37 members who meet on a monthly basis, usually at the Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester, to enjoy demonstrations and workshops by visiting artists thus being introduced to different aspects, medium and techniques in the world of art. Other social activities include a full day of tutored painting in the summer en plein air, weather permitting.
The Annual Exhibition is held in July at the Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester with a high percentage of members exhibiting their work.