Previous Maritime Art Prize Winners, 2017 – 2021

2021 Maritime Art Prize Winners and Sponsors

‘Mediterranean Shipping Company’ Maritime Art Award 2021 – $10,000

Laurel Foenander – Lest we Forget

Oil on Canvas, 2020

Laurel is a contemporary realist painter working in oils, with a passion for painting the natural world and highlighting the effects of our changing climate and its role on the depletion of species’.

‘Port Phillip Sea Pilots’ Best Traditional Maritime Art Award – $5,000

Debra Marshall – Sea Forrest

Pen on Paper, 2021

Debra is a Melbourne based artist who is currently investigating landscape, and the intersection between the natural world and the man-made landscape.

‘Nevile & Co’ Runner-Up Award – $2,000

Don Braben – Once Were Lifesavers

Oil on Board, 2021

Don Braben is a Fellow, Vice President and Foundation Member of the Australian Society of Marine Artists. His marine paintings in oil and watercolour are in many private and public collections across the globe.

‘Gulf Agency Company’ Emerging Artist Award – $1,000

Antoinette Inguanti – Men at Work

Acrylic on Canvas, 2021

As an amateur artist, Antoinette constantly explores different mediums and subjects, but always returns to the beauty of the sea that surrounds her and that is in her DNA.

The Maritime Art Prize and Exhibition is a major fundraising initiative of the Mission to Seafarers. The generosity of our sponsors who provide the prize money and other in-kind contributions, and the artists who pay an entrance fee and a commission on all works that are sold, ensures the continued success and wide popularity of this annual event.

Quote attributable to MtSV CEO Sue Dight:

“The Maritime Art Awards and Exhibition have presented us with some interesting challenges again this year, due to COVID-19. Taking the exhibition online provides us with a global audience for the artists that have supported the Mission for so many years. Our role in supporting the seafarers is highlighted by providing the public with an understanding of the harsh and dangerous conditions that seafarers experience every day. Our immediate concern is for the thousands of crew members globally who are still stuck on board without shore leave and, for some, abandoned a long way from home. Isolation harms us all and seafarers are suffering more than ever. Art inspires us to remember those who are working solidly to deliver our everyday items.”

View 2021 ANL Maritime Art Prize Gallery

2020 Maritime Art Prize Winners and Sponsors

Maritime Art Award 2020 – $10,000

Rodney Forbes ‘A submariner dreams of home.’ Oil on Canvas

Rodney Forbes is fascinated by how people tell stories. His vibrant paintings address deeply poignant subject matter through dreamlike and surreal imagery. Figures and objects float against his trademark palette of bright, luminous colours, drawing the viewer in to explore a rich narrative. Drawing on both autobiographical and historical events, Forbes has the masterful ability to portray sometimes dark and challenging subject matter through vibrant, cartoon-like imagery, resulting in deeply engaging works that invite extended contemplation.

Judges’ Comments: Chair of Judges Dr. Graeme H. Williams OAM

This year’s judging resulted in the main award going to an established artist, however it was far from clear cut due to the high standard of entries and their different approaches to the theme. The winner, Rodney Forbes, first submitted for the Award in 2016 and his works have always demanded attention. It was felt that his work not only captured the essence of the theme ‘The Relationship of Humanity to the Sea’ but was particularly pertinent that it was based on the lot of a submariner considering the whole of Melbourne is in lockdown with a pandemic, similarly without contact with loved ones. Forbes is a master of irony and there are many layers embedded in this work, making it a worthy response to the theme.

‘Gulf Agency’ Best Traditional Maritime Art Award – $5,000

John Woodland ‘Tooronga and Changte’ Watercolour on Paper

John Woodland is a Fellow of The Royal Art Society of NSW, Fellow of Australian Society of Marine Artists, Member Australian Watercolour Institute and Professional Member International Society of Marine Painters

Judges’ Comments: Ms. Catherine De Boer; Artist, Designer & Educator. 

“A softly nuanced, big impact painting, with a restful colour palette and the calm of reflective waters.”

Emerging Artist Award – $1,000

Benedict Sibley ‘All Men will be Sailors’ Willow Charcoal on Arches Paper

Benedict Sibley recently completed a Master of Contemporary Art in 2018 at VCA. Based in Melbourne, Sibley works mainly in charcoal and explores themes surrounding migration, the environment and inclusivity.

Judges’ Comments: Ms. Catherine De Boer; Artist, Designer & Educator. 

“A thought–provoking environmental portrait of refugee and award-winning novelist Behrouz Boochani.”

VICT Peoples Choice Award – $1,000

Amber Simon – ‘Burnie Locals‘

Acrylic on Canvas

This work depicts a sculpture that is located by the sea in the coastal town of Burnie, Tasmania. It explores themes of identity through the connection the artist has with certain locations and how they make her feel.

‘Nevile & Co’ Runners Up Award – $2,000

Equal placings went to highly skilled and beautifully rendered artworks reflecting contemporary themes of the self, and in living with plastics in our daily lives.

Joint Winner:

Mark Seabrook ‘The Catch (1938)’ Oil on Canvas

Mark Seabrook is a Melbourne-based painter and designer. His Art History degree informs much of his work, along with liberal doses of pop culture, absurdism and humour.

Joint Winner:

Orlando Durades Valdor ‘Get lost to find yourself’ Acrylic on Linen

Originally from Cuba, Melbourne based visual artist Orlando Durades Valdor has been honing his skills in geometric abstraction for the past twelve years, presenting a very unique and vibrant style.

View 2020 ANL Maritime Art Prize Gallery

2019 Art Prize Winners and Sponsors

2019 MARITIME ART PRIZE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

As always the jury were impressed with the high standard of entries in the ANL Maritime Art prize. The theme ‘the Relationship of Humanity to the Sea’ The winning works were incredibly creative in response to the Brief.

Congratulations to 2019 Maritime Art Prize Winner

Maria Kontis:Barely surviving and merely looking on

Judges comment: “A deceptively humble, relaxed work with great pathos and ambition, but phrased in a unique artistic language. Using a virtuoso technique, it fulfills the brief of the prize admirably.”

ASP Shipping ‘Best in Traditional Maritime Art Award’ (Acquisitive)

Jenny Viney: Men at Work

Judges Comment: “This painting explores the intimate connection between industry and shipping, reminding the viewer that many ports around Australia are located in remote places of great natural beauty.”

VIVA Energy ‘People’s Choice Award’

Jenny Laidlaw: The Light Will Guide You Home

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) ‘Emerging Artist Award’

Raj Panda: Looking Back to Look Forward

Nevile & Co, Second Prize:

Barbara Tyson: Weight of Living

Judges Comment: ‘‘Weight of Living’ combines a modernist collage of nautical allusions with an inventive and almost shockingly bold composition.”

View 2019 ANL Maritime Art Prize Gallery

2018 Art Prize Winners and Sponsors

SPONSORSHIP

We thank ANL and the exhibition sponsors and artists for making this wonderful insight into all things maritime possible.

Sponsorship of the Art Awards has its own rewards and we look forward to tailoring an opportunity for your company to be part of future Maritime Art Awards.

Please contact Sue Dight to discuss your involvement on
+613 9629 7083 or artprize@missiontoseafarers.com.au

The ANL Maritime Art Exhibition will be open from 4th – 20th October, 2019 at the beautiful Heritage listed Mission to Seafarers building at 717 Flinders Street, Docklands from 10am – 10pm, daily.

Entry by gold coin donation includes a catalogue of the show.

2018 MARITIME ART PRIZE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The jury were impressed with the high standard of entries in the 2018 ANL Maritime Art prize. The theme ‘the Relationship of Humanity to the Sea’ attracted a diverse response of work ranging from traditional to contemporary mixed media. The winning works resonate with an outstanding level of creativity in response to the Brief. They were evocative, and showed a great deal of ideation and originality.

Congratulations to 2018 Maritime Art Prize Winner, Joni Dennis, for her multi-media work, ‘Aye Aye Captain’

Judges comments: “The winning work is a multi-faceted portrayal and celebration of ambitious female sea captains of container ships who travel the world.”

Nevile & Co, Second Prize: Awarded to Robert J Williams for ‘Rust in Peace’

Judges comments: “A fresh take on portrayal of the iconic HMAS Cerberus wreck. A softly nuanced, big impact painting with a restrained colour palette.”

2018 ASP, Best Traditional Award: David Rowe, ‘The Naval Mechanic’

Judges comments: “A highly skilled and executed environmental portraiture of a Naval mechanic in the belly of a ship, rich in its tonality and depth.”

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2018 DP World Australia, Emerging Artist Award: Ben Tankard, ‘Unpopular Penguin 286’

Judges comments: “… a layered narrative, with intriguing references to man’s relationship to the sea. We felt it was a highly innovative response to the Brief”

Congratulations to our TWO People’s Choice Award Winners!

The Prize was tied this year, between Jenny Laidlaw for ‘Breaker at the Stern’ (pictured left), and Donna Gibb, for ‘The Spirit of the Sea’ (pictured right). The artists and MTSV thank the People’s Choice sponsor, VIVA Energy Australia, for supporting the Maritime Art Prize.

View 2018 Maritime Art Prize Gallery

2017 Art Prize Winners and Sponsors

ANL Maritime Art Award Winner

‘Workhorse on the Orwell’ by Ted Dansey

Nevile & co ‘Runners up’ – ‘Guardians of an Unknown Port’ by Chris Rowe

Rowe_Chris_Guardians-of-an-Unknown_web

Highly Commended
Gillian Lodge – ‘We are Sailing’
Jane Flowers – ‘Passage’
Jennifer Viney – ‘West Swanston Dock’
Rodney Forbes – ‘Little Waterfront’

Commended
Bridgit Thomas – ‘Ship Spotting’
Pat McKenzie – ‘55˚ S’
Robert J Williams – ‘Telegraph’

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ASP Best in
Traditional Maritime Art Award

2017 Winner: ‘Another Cargo Loaded’ by Mary Hyde

Second Place: ‘Telegraph’ by Robert J Williams

Special Commendations:
Jennifer Viney – ‘West Swanston Dock’
Julie Cane – ‘Afternoon Stroll’
Louise Price – ‘Melbourne Bound’
Ted Dansey – ‘Workhorse on the Orwell’

DP World Emerging Artist Award

2017 Winner: ‘Self Portrait as the Blind Captain’ by Jamie Preisz

Special Commendations
Karen Bloomfield – ‘Scale’
Mark Cairns – ‘Sea wall #1’

View 2017 Maritime Art Prize Gallery

Previous Maritime Art Prize Winners, 2017 – 2021