The ‘Yorkshire’s Artist of the Year’ has been crowned to an artist from Fairburn after beating over 250 other regional up-and-coming artists for the top prize.

Mercy Robinson from Fairburn near Castleford won over the judges with her mixed media painting of a landscape inspired by a journey along the A66, travelling from Scotch Corner to Keswick.

On winning, proud artist Mercy commented, “I am so proud that I’ve won the first ever ‘Yorkshire’s Artist of the Year’ award. It’s a real honour and I’m so happy the judges loved my work as much as I do.”

We invited artists aged 16 and over across Yorkshire to submit their favourite piece of work. The entries went to a public vote before being shortlisted to 15. The shortlist was then presented to an expert judging panel.

The judges included Lotte Inch, a gallery owner at Lotte Inch Gallery in York, Kevin O’hare, Head of Visual & Digital Arts at Leeds City College, Adam Stone, Course Leader at Leeds Arts University and Viv Lawrance, an artist from Sheffield.

Second place was awarded to Donna Lowson from Sheffield and third place to Felsa Marie Barut from Huddersfield.

The artwork of the shortlisted entries will be on display for one week at Express Bi-folding Door’s flagship showroom in Leeds from the 27^th September, the same day the company is hosting a Macmillan coffee morning. Some of the artwork is available to buy and all proceeds from the artwork will go to St Gemma’s Hospice, a charity Express has supported for many years.

Steve Bromberg, managing director for Express Bi-folding Doors, commented: “We’d like to thank everyone who entered our first ‘Yorkshire’s Artist of the Year’ award and extend congratulations to our winner, Mercy – her landscape piece was beautiful.

“We’ve been blown away by the high volume and standard of entries throughout the region and are proud to champion the local artists in Yorkshire. We urge people to come along to our Macmillan coffee morning on the 27th of September to view the shortlisted artwork and support two fantastic charities.”

Mercy’s prize includes £400 worth of art supply vouchers.