Community
11 June, 2026
Record-setting entries
THE Mortlake Art Show has drawn a record number of entries, with one of the stalwarts of the town taking out Best in Show honours this year.
Mortlake Art Show convenor Cassandra Ellis said she was rapt with the number of entrants in this year’s show.
“It was another record for us, with 135 pieces on display,” she said.
“We’ve also had a lot of support for some of the smaller merchandise, which has been introduced in recent years and sold really well.
“One thing I noticed was we had about 50 pot plants, all of which featured unique artwork, and they’ve run out the door.”
It wasn’t just the number of entries which had organisers beaming, so too did the number of attendees as the event continued to draw in strong patronage.
“We’ve been really happy with the attendance,” Ms Ellis said.
“We’ve averaged in excess of 100 people coming in each day, and the total visits over the long weekend reached 525 people.
“With the Mortlake Markets and the Country Women’s Association Creative Arts Exhibition being held at the same time, we’ve certainly seen an uptick in attendance.”
Mortlake’s Armour Beardsley took home Best in Show for her piece ‘The Lily Pond’.
This was the first time Mrs Beardsley, a long-time entrant and stalwart of Mortlake artistry, has taken out the top honour at the show.
“Mike Gilmour was our judge this year and he commented that, as an artist who himself has previously won Best in Show, he feels green is the hardest colour on the palette to work with and get right,” Ms Ellis said.
“He specifically mentioned the attention to detail which Armour showed, looking at the contrasting shadows despite the difficulty associated with green – mixing the blues and the yellows just right to get the detail.
“What Mike was looking for when choosing the prize winners was a depth between light and dark, to look at the shadows.
“Sometimes something can be a bit flat, which doesn’t have the movement, so that’s what captured Armour’s piece.”
Among the highlights of the show was an incredible range of entries from the younger members of the community, many of whom Armour Beardsley has personally taught.
“Our youngest entrant was five years old, and our winner was only 12 years old,” Ms Ellis said.
“Natasha Starick won for her piece, ‘Lion’, which was an incredible depiction of a lion.
“It was just a wonderful piece for a 12-year-old.
“The kids were just amazing, and even boasted our first sale.”
Among the works on display at this year’s event was a recently-discovered piece from famed Mortlake artist William Aris Alen, who lived in Mortlake for around 50 years from the late 1870s.
“We probably only had about 10 paintings from him so we invited members of the public to submit their own entries, and that’s how the Mortlake Art Show started,” Ms Ellis said.
“Then this year, Colin Krepp found this piece from William Aris Alen at his house.
“It’s an incredible original painting, which will probably be donated to the historical society.
“It’s incredible to know his work is how all of this started.”
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