Bay of Fires Youth Art Prize

Every year we are so appreciative of the judges who assist us to exhibit and assess the finalists and prize winners – never an easy job! They take so much time to look at art work online and in person as well as reading the individual stories that accompany the art work.

This year’s judges are a fabulous and enthusiastic group led by Chair of our judging panel, Annabel Dean

Lynn Ashton Judge Bio

Lynn Ashton’s association with the arts spans decades, from her career as a photo journalist, professional photographer, sculptor, curator and art conservationist. Lynn’s interesting and varied life has always had learning and study at its core which is clear through her many achievements including a Diploma in Education, A Degree in Sculpture, [VCA] and a Masters in Fine Art Curating and Conservation, [Melbourne University].

Lynn turned to teaching later in her career and helped shape the lives of many students creatively in conjunction with moving to the middle of Victoria where she built a house and studio. Here she continued to practice as a fine artist and produced exclusive Art works and commissions which she continues to create.

Lynn moved to St. Helens seven years ago and has contributed to the creative energy of our district. Lynn has generously given her time at the neighbourhood house as an art teacher,  mentoring many locals to expand and extend their skills in art practice. We welcome her as one of this years Bay of Fires Youth Art Award judges.

Judith Sercombe Judge Bio  

Judith Sercombe originated from Tanja NSW but has spent most of her life in Tasmania. Her creative career took off as a toy maker which was inspired by her children, by creating hippopotamus pillows children could sit on. As her creativity developed she studied Ceramics, specialising in throwing, hand building and gas firing.

Fascinated by these processes and driven by her passion for the earth and nature she moved onto saw dust firing and Raku. At the time Raku was a little known Japanese low firing pottery technique that is used to form Chawan tea bowls for Japanese tea ceremonies. She set up a home studio and Kiln on the far south coast of Tasmania and built a pole house over looking Randall’s Bay. During this time she also produced unique cartoons in clay figures, sculptures, drawings and paintings. She sold her work, along with other well known Tasmanian ceramists at Salamanca Market for 26 years and became recognised for her Avante Garde style work.

Her ceramics career has spanned over 35 years and Judith’s works have been purchased all over the world from Fiji to Scandinavia. Some of Judith’s work was stolen in a break in from a client in Papua New Guinea along with their TV. The client purchased more of her work as they loved it so much. We welcome her as one of our Bay of Fires Youth Art Award judges for 2022.

Annabel Dean Chair of Judging Bio

Annabel started her creative career drawing cartoons on peoples tables in share houses. This lead her to study a Fine Arts degree at the University of Tasmania. During her time at Uni she started a co-op with some other students to buy wholesale art supplies and created a gallery space to exhibit and sell student’s work. This enterprise later became Entrepôt Supply Store and Gallery which continues today as part of the Art School in Hobart.

After completing her degree she and 3 other artists created Printworks at Salamanca place and partnered with Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart. Printworks raised funds, bought printing presses and become a free community access print studio where anyone could create art and learn about Printmaking. Annabel and the 3 core members of Printworks created music/art events at the Salamanca courtyard. Annabel managed and curated the events which created a cult following of sometimes up 500 attendee’s. This style of event was later taken over by Salamanca Arts Centre and renamed Rektango which continues today.

Exhibitions were part of the Printworks agenda, which took Art out of the gallery space into the public arena. One of their first successful Art exhibitions was in the then popular pub the Wheatsheaf Hotel where a local band accompanied the exhibition. Printworks also partnered with other print studios nationally during this time.

One of the few remaining Printworks posters from these events is held in the national gallery archive and Printworks went from a free public space to a private artist studios     in the 2000s.

Annabel has continued to be involved in the creation and management of the arts, health and music festivals in far North Queensland. Annabel still practices art and selling her work. This is her fourth year as Chair of judging for the Bay of Fires Youth Art Award.