Edward Sellman wins The Attenborough Prize 2011

Edward Sellman has won The Attenborough Prize 2011 for his oil painting ‘Ascension' at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester.

The artist's prize, The Attenborough Prize, started in 2007, now in its fifth year, features a shortlist of six artists vying for the £2000 prize.

The 2011 shortlisted artists and artworks were; Geoff Diego Litherland for ‘Everyone is a Burning Sun', Joe Moran for ‘Polygons Arranged By Chance (Series 1)', Edward Sellman for ‘Ascension', Nigel Tacey for ‘Poacher', Ben Wilde for ‘Kaws Bendy' and Jon Williams for ‘Marley's Warning'.

The Attenborough Prize is selected from entered works into the Open 23 exhibition at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery. The prize is awarded to the best contemporary visual artist in the exhibition. The Attenborough Prize aims to support a local or regional artist and their professional development.

The previous Attenborough Prize winners were David Raine (2010), Neil Raitt (2009), Sarah Key (2008) and Choterina Freer (2007).

The annual Open exhibition is a great barometer of creative talent in the region with a wide selection of different artforms, from landscape painting to photography, illustration and sculpture, textiles and ceramics. All the artworks are for sale, providing a perfect opportunity for visitors to start their very own art collection.

The Open exhibition is available to artists living or working in Leicestershire, Rutland, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire with craft practitioners also from Warwickshire and the West Midlands.

The Attenborough Prize winner and shortlist is exhibited as part of the Open 23 exhibition at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery. The exhibition runs from 12th November 2011 - 8th January 2012, admission is free.

The Open 23 exhibition is supported by:
Tassell Design and Quality Solicitors Wilson Browne. Castle Park Heritage & Arts Festival, De Montfort Hall, Embrace Arts, LCB Depot, Leicester Print Workshop, Martin and Robert Carswell, Phoenix Square, The Great Central [Gallery & Studios] and The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Leicester.

For more information on the Open 23 exhibition, visit our website:
www.leicester.gov.uk/open23