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A painting of a Warkworth garden has won top prize in a New Zealand water colour competition and reignited the passion of a top New Zealand painter, who was ready to throw in the towel.
“Barbara in her Summer Garden” won first prize in the Winsor & Newton NZ Summer Watercolour Competition.
It was painted by Jan Alldritt-Miller, 75, who formerly owned Treetops gallery in Sandspit.
Jan had not painted since losing her gallery three years ago, but at her friend Barbara Allwood’s insistence, and encouragement from her granddaughter, she was persuaded to pick up her brushes again.
Jan says a visit to Barbara’s garden in Rivendell Place takes one “into a magical realm”.
“Puttering around Barbara’s garden at New Year, my resolution to start painting again was rekindled,” she says.
“Where better to start than by painting my best chum – a little garden sprite with her battered basket.”
Jan says to have won first place was a real boost and has kick started her desire to paint again.
She says for a long time she felt that without a studio or gallery there was no reason to continue her interest in art.
“However, I have now begun to give talks on my art and travels, which has bought me out into the world again.”
Jan is one of New Zealand’s foremost representational water colourists and represented New Zealand at the Asian Pacific Watercolour Exhibition in Taiwan over several years.
