Matthew Watson impressed the judges to claim the Pitcher Partners 2023 Maitland Art Prize… announced ahead of this weekend’s Maitland Show.
The East Maitland resident won first prize for his acrylic on canvas work Got the Blues, a portrait of music legend Bob Dylan.
But, he doesn’t describe himself as an artist.
The 38-year-old signwriter initially did the work as a personal challenge.
His wife Brooke saw an advertisement for the prize and encouraged him to enter.
“I don’t get to work with a brush any more as signwriting is largely digital,” Mr Watson said.
“The painting was a project to prove to myself that I still have skills with a brush.
“I was always good at art – painting and drawing – at school and I enjoyed the hand painting tasks we did when I studied graphic design and signwriting at TAFE.”
A music fan, he’s always liked Dylan’s music and image.
“I found an image of Bob I liked, zoned in on an area and went from there,” Mr Watson explained.
He admitted he was shocked but thrilled at winning the major prize.
Originally from Yorkshire in England, Mr Watson, his wife Brooke and his daughter Charlotte relocated to the Hunter from Sydney 18 months ago.
He emigrated to Sydney in 2012 where he worked in graphic design, signwriting, painting and decorating and TAFE teaching.
He went back to the signage industry when he moved to the Hunter working for the Rutherford-based business Trick Group.
Three-year-old Charlotte joined her dad at the prize announcement at the Maitland Showground on Friday February 10.
Pitcher Partners Newcastle and Hunter managing director Michael Minter presented Mr Watson with his $5,000 bounty.
“Our firm has its origins in Maitland and the art prize has been an important local institution and part of the Maitland Show,” he said.
There were 83 entries this year, which were judged by University of Newcastle lecturer in natural history illustration and fine art Trevor Weekes.
Mr Watson’s work and others will be on display at the Maitland Showground’s Thomas Morgan Pavilion during the Maitland Show from 17 to 19 February.
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