Combined Art Societies of Sydney

Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition 2025

Our regular annual event, the Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition was held in March.  A premium event which showcases the work of artists from our 12 member societies which together are the Combined Art Societies of Sydney (CASS).

33rd ART OF SYDNEY EXHIBITION

AWARD WINNERS

The Awards Presentation was held on Saturday afternoon, 22nd March, at the Randwick Town Hall.

This year, our judge, Paul McCarthy selected the winners in each of the 5 sections and the awards were presented by our patrons, Her Excellency, the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales and Mr Dennis Wilson.

The winners in the miniature section were presented by one of our sponsors, Mr. Joe Green.

 

Here are our WINNERS!

BEST IN SHOW went to Colina Grant for her painting titled “Peace”

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:     “Perfectly captured translation, wonderful use of clean darks and linking elements.”

 

Section 1 – Oil Painting or Acrylic painted as Oil

 The WINNER for this section was Marlene Weaver for her portrait of  “David”      

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:   Powerful and controlled semi-abstraction. Nicely overlayed line and shape

 

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Morris Yang – Norah Head Beach

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:
“Good composition and colour harmony.
Well controlled with bold confident strokes”

 

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED
John Perkins – Loading Newcastle

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: 
“Good drawing and design of an industrial setting.
Well balanced small painting.”

 

 

COMMENDED
Liz Donley
“Sea Treasure Urchin”

 

COMMENDED
Zofia Swita-Bobryk
“The Reader – from life”

 

COMMENDED
Robert Wale
“Colours of Fira (Santorini)”

Section 2 – Water Medium

 The WINNER for this section was Dee Jackson for her painting titled “Bella”     

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: 

“Magnificent Control and understanding of the medium.
Superb drawing skills in paint.
Exceptional understanding of tone and colour.

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Catherine Murphy
“I see the Sea”

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Trish Maclachan
“Rushcutters Bay”

COMMENDED
Jean Murray
“Springtime”

 

 

 COMMENDED
Gloria Galvin
“Water’s Edge”

 

Section 3 – Drawing and Mixed Media

 The WINNER for this section was Harry Tolitsasfor his portrait of “Keith” 

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:  Well observed, loose but accurate approach. Good understanding of tone and colour.”

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Jennifer Maclaine-Cross
“Rose with Lilies”


JUDGE’S COMMENTS: 
“Colour and Line to Perfection”

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Peter Whitehead
“Submersion”

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: 
“Nicely balanced and controlled abstract,
– good collection of different shapes”

 

 

COMMENDED
Jane Wray
“Bathing Beauties”

COMMENDED
Annette McCrossin
“If you go down the woods today”
 

 COMMENDED
Jan Latta

 

 


Jan Latta also received an award for her

“Plate Etching”

 

 

Section 4 – Abstract Paintings

 

 The WINNER for this section was Jenny Hall for her painting titled “Lakeland” 

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: 

”Good colour discord and drawn marks to take the viewer through the picture”

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Michelle Hendriks
“Land of Oz 2”

 

 

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: 

“Great rhythm and repeated shapes with enough variation to invoke movement.”

COMMENDED
Harald Kamp
“Destination”

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Jean Capelletto
“Mozart Mass in C Minor”

 


JUDGE’S COMMENTS: 

“Confident controlled mark making, clean colour and good rhythm”

Section 5 – Suzanne Green Award for Miniature Paintings

 The WINNER for this section was Marina Bishop for her painting titled “Chiswick Pool” 


JUDGE’S COMMENTS: 

“Wonderful design and composition, simplicity of carving with economy of print area.
A beautiful translation of the landscape.”

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Robyn Langford-Brown
“Sturt Desert Pea”
 

 

COMMENDED
Freda Surgenor
“An Early Meeting”

 

All Sections – FINALISTS

Harry Tolitsas                –        Mick

Morris Yang                  –        Bondi Beach

Caroline Oesterheld     –        At the Window 

Freda Surgenor             –        On guard

Jennifer Maclaine        –        Cross – Gumnuts

Jan Latta                        –        Strength

Heather Macorison      –        Alchemy

Diana Borinski               –        Untitled

Alannah Best                 –        Along Cliff Drive, Blue Mountains

Oksana Stevens           –        Before the night descends  

 

OTHER AWARDS 

In addition to the above awards, we also had our usual People’s Choice Award and this year, the award went to Niki Koeppl for her artwork titled; “My Boy 2”.

 

We also had two similar awards, firstly from the Randwick Town Hall Team Choice,
which was presented to Elaine Foulsham for her work “The Faded Day”.


We also had the Leveller’s Picks, presenting two awards;
“Heading South” by Jane Wray and “Hidden Face” by Joe Green.


“Heading South”
by Jane Wray

“Hidden Face” by Joe Green.

We would also like to thank the following 3 artists who kindly donated their paintings for our Art of Sydney Raffle prizes which raised funds for CareFlight.

Diana Garth donated her landscape painting titled “View from Stanwell Tops”

Shirley Hagarty donated her artwork titled “Afternoon Light”

Marlene Weaver donated her artwork titled “Parrot”

Our previous Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition

Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition 2023


Our 32nd Art Of Sydney Awards Exhibition was another very successful event enjoyed by many. 

This popular event held each year invites artists from our Member Societies under CASS to participate and be eligible to win awards under several categories. 

Last year held at the Prince Henry Centre in Little Bay, our display of artworks were judged by multi award winning Sydney artist, Dario Falzon.

Our Guest of Honour, Mr Dennis Wilson presented each award to all our winning artists under 6 categories. 

The first award for ‘Best in Show’ went to David El-Melky.  

And here are all our winners at the Awards Presentation event held on the 25th March, 2023.

32nd ART OF SYDNEY EXHIBITION

AWARD WINNERS

Awards Judge: 

Dario Falzon

Multi Award winning artist Dario Falzon is based in Sydney and has been invited to judge many Sydney art events.  His work has been published in several magazines including The Australian Artist.

Guest of Honour:

 

Dennis Wilson

 

Our CASS Patron, Mr Dennis Wilson  presented the awards at the Official Opening of the Exhibition on Saturday, 25th March between 2 and 4pm.

Awards Presentation Ceremony

Best Exhibit In Show

The Art Scene Award

Prize: $1,000 Gift Voucher

Winner

GLOW

Artist: David El-Melky

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A beautifully executed piece of traditional realism. The composition is well balanced and the expert use of contrast guide the viewer’s eye, keeping them constantly engaged and wandering the quiet rhythms of the subject matter. A wonderfully realised study that shows a level of control only capable when one has mastered their craft.

Section 1

Award for Oil Painting or Acrylic painted as Oil

Prize: $500

Winner

Red Earth Tranquillity

 

Artist:  Dana Sypniewski

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A vibrant piece that utilises a strong complementary colour scheme and dynamic contrast to depict its subject matter. The pleasing repetition of form draws the eye in, and the placement of complementary colour shapes guides the viewer allowing them to wander, but never getting lost.

Highly Commended

Approaching Storm Bombo

 

Artist:  John Perkins

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A strong foreground anchors the composition providing visual and metaphorical contrast with the chaos of the stormy sea and distant clouds. The use of light and dark serves to heighten the dramatic tension.

Commended

Scones and Cream at Grandma's

 

Artist:   Marlene Weaver

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

An amazingly realised still life. The radiating lines formed by the various objects on the table draw the eyes to the focal point, rewarded with the ingenious depiction of flowers in a vase, caught in appliances’ reflection. The bold use of colour pulls you in but it’s the expert handling of it that keeps you engaged.

Finalists

As the Crows Fly on a Cold Lonesome Morning
Artist:   Douglas Chapman

Daburi Lane (iGore) 
Artist:    Phil McKay

Ellery Creek Dreaming
Artist:    Heidi Hereth

Sunflower 
Artist:    Kym Morris

Section 2

Water Medium

Prize: $500

Winner

Shoal Bay Oceania

Artist: Diana Borinski

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A thoughtful and considered composition, lovingly portraying the beauty of the ocean represented by a shell collection. The placement of shell, shape and colour creates a path for the eye that can be calmly wandered and enjoyed.

Highly Commended

Lady Hillingdon

Artist: Jean Murray 

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

An exquisite still life that almost hypnotises the viewer with its rhythmic folds, light and darks, warm colours and cool colours. All serve to engage and entice, but ultimately guide the viewer back to the focal point of the centre of the main flower. Well done!

Commended

Summer Pastime

Artist: Gloria Galvin       

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A well-executed maritime landscape with lovely use of atmospheric perspective. The big sky is full of light and creates a nice balance to the warms and cools of the shoreline below.

Finalists

Gunnamatta Bay 
Artist:    Trish Maclachlan

Anyone for Yachting
Artist:    Yvonne West

Sea Caves 
Artist:    Heidi Hereth

Melancholy  
Artist:    Niki Koeppl

Section 3

Drawing and Mixed Media

Derivan Award - Goods to the value of $500

Winner

Wandsworth Gate

Artist: Joan Morrison-Swan

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

An intimate little scene with a subject matter rendered in beautiful detail. The clear and concise filigree of the gate contrasts nicely with the dark and chaotic linework of the foreground foliage. Combined with the distant tree line and the foreground brick wall, they serve to frame the gate (itself a frame of sorts) of the piece’s title. Subtle use of colour adds life and depth.

Highly Commended

The Hidden Cave

Artist: Joe Green

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A captivating little scene that drew my attention. The unique handling of the medium creates countless interesting passages that evoke a sense of life, mystery and depth.

Commended

In Situ

Artist: Xavier Ghazi 

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

 

A beautiful portrait, supported by adept draughtsmanship and control of values. The use of soft and hard edges reinforces the focal point while the restrained depiction of eyes creates a level of dramatic tension and mystery.

Finalists

Section 4

Abstract Paintings

Prize: $500

Winner

Rarefied Atmosphere

Artist:  Terry Lavis

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A unique piece whose framing choice is just as much a part of the work as is the painted subject itself. It allows the eye view ‘through a window’ of sorts and ‘see what they want to see’; it requires interaction in order to reciprocate meaning. For me, this evokes quiet mornings kayaking on the Hawkesbury River at Cattai. A truly wonderful little piece.

Highly Commended

Colour Me

Artist:  Maria Kapodistrias 

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A lively dance of shape and colour. The vibrant flashes of turquoise create movement and complementary contrast, all the while ensuring the eye never wanders too far.

Commended

Mariner’s Flow

Artist:  Kym Morris 

 

 

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A fluid and circular composition guides the viewer around the centre anchor. The cool blues and green create a calming movement punctuated with bursts of bright colour shapes. A lovely little abstract piece.

Finalists

Connections
Artist:    Jani Nanavati

Farbenfroh      
Artist:    Kurt Koeppl 

Break the Algorithm
Artist:    Waqeea Chaudhry

Section 5

Award for Best Small Painting

Award: $500

Winner

Skip (Witches Hat)

Artist:  Phil McKay

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A simple subject matter that utilises bold colour shapes to create a composition that elevates the ordinary to the extraordinary. It is a wonderful example of seeing the sublime in places we often overlook.   

Highly Commended

In Golden Light

Artist:  Patricia Latta

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A well-executed backlit subject. Excellent control of values. The subject’s gaze piercing and engages the viewer immediately. All of this is underpinned by masterful draughtsmanship.

Commended

Night

Artist:  Robert Adams 

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A beautifully little piece full of softness and light, The contrasting cool and warm colours create the illusion of the disc glowing while the downward gesture of the figure creates a gentle sense of mystery.

Commended

Pittwater Angophora

Artist:   Peter Warner

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A magical little landscape that shows a deft understanding of composition, tonal structure and light temperature relationships. The use of the tree and the contrasting warm and cool light on foreground foliage serves to create a circular composition that frames the distant focal point.

Finalists

Happy in the Valley     
Artist:    Trish Bennett 

Manly Beach  

Artist:    Dana Sypniewski 

Shelly Beach in the Dreamtime    
Artist:    Robert Wale  

Section 6

Miniature Paintings

‘Susanne Green’ Award - $500 for Best Miniature Painting

Winner

Ocean Treasures

Artist:   Heidi Hereth

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A sweet little vignette that contains everything it needs and nothing else, executed with deft and delicate draughtsmanship.

Highly Commended

Good Morning Sunshine

Artist:   Annette McCrossin

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

A beautiful depiction of morning light with the cow silhouettes creating the perfect contrast of cool dark with the warm bloom of the rising sun.

Commended

Sunday Golf

Artist:   Diana Garth

JUDGE’S COMMENTS:

The use of the high horizon line ensures that the eye stays focused on the subject and understands its importance in the piece. A lovely little composition.

Finalists

Nature’s Window   
Artist:    Trish Bennett 

Visitation   
Artist:    Robyn Langford-Brown     

Taj Mahal from the River   
Artist:    Terry Lavis