An amateur artist has scooped a prized Carlisle arts award with a spur-of-the moment painting of a Rich Tea biscuit – in tea.
Jo Graham, 40, of Etterby Road, had never entered an art competition before and was astonished by her win at the Historic Quarter Arts Festival.
Jo, who works at the city’s Screwfix, said: “I was shocked! There were a lot of very good paintings in the exhibition.
“I entered a painting of a sheep, and my biscuit was just an afterthought.
“I was taking a break from painting the sheep and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea and I looked at the tea bag and thought maybe I could paint something with that.”
Less than an hour later she had created her mini masterpiece, a picture of a McVities Rich Tea biscuit – a Carlisle city icon – painted using strong tea on paper from a recycled paper cup.
She was even more astonished to learn of the respected judging panel which chose her work for the Whyte’s Cafe Painting Prize, led by renowned landscape artist and owner of Carlisle business Black Box Architects, Malcolm Wilson.
Malcolm, who has exhibited at the Royal Academy, said: “Tea Biscuit had not only humour with its size and offset framing, but a subtle nod to our heritage here in Carlisle, so it wins on its small but powerful message – as small was indeed beautiful.”
Jo said: “When I saw I had won it was just disbelief. My little biscuit! My art is just a hobby and something I do that’s good for the soul.”
The Historic Quarter Arts Festival, now in its fourth year, is the brainchild of Intro PR & Social Media Ltd, which is based on Paternoster Row in Carlisle.
This year’s theme was Carlisle’s Living History. More than 600 people visited the main exhibition in Intro’s pop-up gallery, and hundreds more followed the art trail to see entries which are exhibited in surrounding shops, hairdressers, cafes and offices and in the creative corridor in the market.
Jo said: “I think the Historic Quarter Arts Festival is lovely and I love the mix of artists, professional and non-professional, and the kids’ work was beautiful too.
“I don’t have a great deal of confidence in myself and to have people who know what they are talking about say this is good, it’s really nice.”
Another amazed amateur took the Black Box People’s Choice Award. Self-taught artist Helen Musso won the most votes from visitors to the exhibition with a picture of Carlisle city landmarks and emblems including the castle, Carlisle United, McVities, Pirelli, Bitts Park and the blue outline of the gas works which she loved as a child.
Helen, 52, is Carlisle born and bred and works at Kath’s Curtains on West Tower Street. After leaving a job as a ceramic painter at Border Fine Arts she gave up art for 30 years until she was inspired to start again during the Covid lockdowns.
She said: “I was stunned to win to be honest. This is the first time I have won anything. I only entered to try and get my work looked at by an audience and the fact I won something is a bonus, I am thrilled.
“I think the Historic Quarter Arts Festival is amazing to be honest. There was a bit of a lack of art in Carlisle and what Intro is doing, giving local artists the opportunity to display their work for people to come and see is so important.”
This year’s judging panel included Dr Sarah Bonner, principal lecturer at the University of Cumbria, Karen Jones, business manager at the Institute of Education, Arts and Society at the University of Cumbria, Melanie Gardner, keeper of fine and decorative art at Tullie, Malcolm Wilson, landscape painter and owner of Black Box Architects, and Sophie Steadman and Molly Hughes of art collective SoMo.
Historic Quarter Arts Festival 2024 winners
Hayward Tod Photography Prize – winner Ben Fox with Imperfect Pub (Boardroom)
Sculpture House Hair Sculpture/Ceramics Prize – winner Aileen Logan Howe with A footstep to the past
Amato’s Mixed Media Prize – winner Gregory Coburn with Carlisle Patriot
Bookends Illustration Prize – winner John Mather with If we only knew for certain
Black Box People’s Choice – winner Helen Musso with Carlisle
Whyte’s Cafe Painting Prize – winner Joanna Graham with Tea Biscuit
Highly commended: Martin Evans, Peter Cray and Tom Adams
Children’s competition winners
Lauren Broadbent, 13, Trinity School – Mary Queen of Scots eating a McVitie’s gingernut
Callum Makepeace, Trinity School – Carlisle cityscape
Alfie Green, nine, St Margaret Mary – The Board Room
