'Daisy' scores $15,000 prize

An "intimate rendition of grass and foliage" has won Waikato artist Frances Van Dammen this year's New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award.

The artist beat 49 other finalists and 280 other entrants to take out the $15,000 prize for her work Daisy: Acrylic on canvas at an award ceremony at the Waikato Times Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival last night.

Judge Dr Robin Woodward, senior lecturer in history at the Auckland University, said while the quality of entries was "incredibly high," Ms Van Dammen's work stood out. "What works really well is the combination of colour, lines and overall patterns. It's very well painted."

This year is the 10th year of the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award. Former winners include Seung Yul Oh and Richard Lewer, who went on to win last year's highly prestigious Wallace Award.

The New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award finalists will be exhibited at the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion from noon to 6pm each day throughout the Summer Festival.

- © Fairfax NZ News