Aspiring Art Prize 2012 winner John Toomer, of Mosgiel, is celebrating double success in this year's Aspiring Art Awards, after also taking the people's choice award.
His piece, Arcadia Theatre Waimate, was judged best artwork before the exhibition opened, and when the exhibition ended the organisers announced Toomer's work had also won the people's choice award, which carried a prize of $1000.
Art awards co-ordinator Yeverley McCarthy said Toomer's painting narrowly beat a piece by Dunedin artist Karen Baddock.
She said about one-third of the artworks in the exhibition had been sold, with a commission from each sale going to the Holy Family School. Art sales have raised money for the school since the awards were established five years ago.
