Rachel Busby has been announced as the winner of the £1000 overall award at The Exeter Contemporary Open 2013. She was awarded the prize for her painting, Virgin.
Busby draws on her rural life in Wales for inspiration, utilising selective memories, true stories and ancient histories to produce sensual, introspective pieces.
The £500 Additional Award was split between Julie Pryce and Oliver Tirre, while the £200 Audience Choice Award, voted for by visitors to the exhibition, will be announced on 21 October.
The Open’s judges comprised artist and curator Kevin Hunt, independent curators Day + Gluckman and Phoenix gallery curator Matt Burrows.
Discussing the decisions, Lucy Day said: “One of the things about such a diverse range of practice is that it makes judging nigh on impossible. We did some serious debate, discussion and arguing – all positive, because we simply couldn’t choose between a group of people, all of who we would have loved to give the award.”
Exeter Contemporary Open, Exeter Phoenix, 13 September – 2 November 2013.
