In September 2011 I had notification about the National Open Art Competition…in fact I had several e.mails and finally decided to enter.

I made 4 submissions. Two were rejected in the first round of judging!! and two were accepted for the 2nd round.

I had to take the photos to Goodwood…the NOAC Headquarters. I believe there were 4000 submissions in the 1st round? and this was whittled down to 4-500 for the 2nd round? so I was delighted to have two for consideration.

The judges were an esteemed group including Gavin Turk (Artist & Chair), Francis Hodgson (photography critic FT) , Catherine Lampert (former curator at the Whitechapel Gallery), Lisa Wright (artist, and previous winner).

To cut a long story short on 11/11/2011 I received this e.mail:

Dear Judith Hayes Submission Title: Still Life. After Caravaggio; CONGRATULATIONS!! Your work has been selected for the National Open Art Competition 2011 Exhibition! And later that day a second e.mail: Dear Judith Hayes CONGRATULATIONS!! Your work Still Life. After Caravaggio has been selected for 1st: The TOWRY NOAC Photographic Award in The National Open Art Competition 2011 Exhibition! If you would like to look at the web site here is the link: www.thenationalopenartcompetition.com There was also a short piece written on the Wimbledon Art College blog to have a look at: http://blogs.wimbledon.arts.ac.uk/snapshot/ Still can't believe it …such fantastic news. The work will be on show at the Minerva Theatre in Chichester in December , I think from the 11th, and from the 3rd-15th January 2012 at the Pallant Gallery. This is the winning work (photo taken whilst exhibited at the 'Flock' show at the GX Gallery August 2011)