Gower College Swansea learners have been busy sketching, painting and creating digital and ceramic art for the annual 9to90 portrait competition, and yet again, have won in multiple categories!
Organized by Jane Simpson of GSArtists, the 9to90 competitions give the local community, of all ages and abilities, an opportunity to come together and to have their work exhibited in the gallery. Each year, the portrait competition centres on a Welsh celebrity, with the celebrity or their family choosing the winners. There is also always a Pet Pawtrait competition.
This year, the subject was BAFTA award-winning Rhys Ifans, who has famously acted in films such as Twin Town, Notting Hill and Harry Potter, and sang lead vocals for the Super Furry Animals rock band. Rhys chose the winners himself.
Gower College Swansea winners from the 17-and-under category of the Rhys Ifans competition
1st place – Curtis Grey
2nd place – Marufa Khatun
Highly Commended x 3 – Paige-Marie, Leo McCloskey and Carys Glen
Gower College Swansea winners for the Pet Pawtrait competition
17-and-under category
1st place - Tom Buxton
2nd place – Kai McCarley
Highly Commended – Charlie Chandler
Adult category
2nd place – Sophie Thomas
“9to90 is is an excellent nonprofit event to celebrate the arts and promote local talent,” says Marilyn Jones, Art and Design Lecturer.
“The students who take part gain so much from the process of answering a real-life brief, exploring techniques, applying skills, exhibiting their work and receiving comments and judgment. And once again, we have winners from our Llwyn y Bryn Campus. What a creative bunch!”
The exhibition was held at GS Artists Gallery in High Street, Swansea.