The winner of the Green Island Art Group's annual painting competition for 2017 was excited to be awarded top place on Tuesday.
"It's got me all worked up,'' Juliet Ickringill said.
Mrs Ickringill painted a Central Otago landscape from a photograph to claim top prize.
The Green Island Art Group meets every Tuesday morning, between 9.30 and 11.30, in the Janet Cameron Hall in Shand St.
Mrs Ickringill has been a member of the group for more than 20 years and said it was the first time she had won any prize for her artwork.
She has been painting since she joined the group about 25 or 26 years ago.
Mrs Ickringill picked up the brush after her late husband told her she needed a hobby.
She said she occasionally brought along a special guest to the painting sessions.
"Sometimes I bring my little dog ... She's been coming her since she was 3 months old, she's 9 now.''
Yvonne Johnston, a member since 2005, said the group had an active membership of about 28, though only 20 painters had entered Tuesday's competition.
There had been a range of media on display in the competition including watercolours, acrylics and oil paintings.
Retirement and "the urge to paint'' had driven Mrs Johnston to join the group.
She said Tuesday's competition served as a "good lead up'' to the group's exhibition between September 21 and 24, in the Meridian Mall.
JOSHUA.RIDDIFORD @thestar.co.nz
