An Angus art gallery is winning new fans with its latest swipe at modern society.
It has delivered the “swede” reward of the inaugural Turnip Prize for one contributor to its current show.
In the latest innovation for a small premises that has garnered a big reputation through events, including a display of work by the nation’s most celebrated political cartoonists, gallery owner Susie Clark put out a call for submissions capturing the concerns of modern life.
Susie said: “The idea of the competition was to give the artists a chance to have a pop at the system.
“In a world where few people are prepared to declare the emperor naked, I thought it would be an idea to set a brief which offered a chance to expose absurdity, highlight hypocrisy and release rancour.
“It then became the Turnip Prize and we have been absolutely chuffed with the entries the artists have all given it real thought and tremendous support.
“We were also delighted to get sponsorship for this first Turnip Prize from Forfar Removals and Bruce Swan of Glenisla Hotel.”
The Courier’s Angus chief reporter Graham Brown faced the challenge of selecting the first winner of the Turnip Prize and said: “It proved a very difficult task given the entertaining and incisive way all of the artists capture the brief.”
Linda Pate from Airlie was selected as the winner with the smiling penguin in her Dare to Be Different piece, an astute observation on modernity, with the Glasgow Commonwealth Games-inspired Vampire Scotties of Barbara Robertson also selected for recognition.
The exhibition runs until March 11.