The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The rurality of the Spalding area inspired an artist named best newcomer at South Holland Open Arts Exhibition 2015.
Becca Sturdgess’ work ‘Digger’ features a JCB and tractor in a field,
She was urged to enter the exhibition by her grandmother, but never expected to win an award.
The 26-year-old said: “My friend drives a JCB and gave me a photo of one of his diggers. As Spalding is a rural area I thought it would make a nice local piece.
“I honestly never expected it to win. I was totally caught off guard when my name was announced and it took a while to sink in.
“The quality of the work here is amazing and it’s great to see so many visitors enjoying themselves.”
Fron left – Rachel Rowett (South Holland District Council arts and culture development officer), Becca Sturdgess, Spalding district councillor Christine Lawton, John Gray and Helen Webber, of Spalding’s Riverbank Studios, who sponsored the award, and district councillor Sally Slade.
Becca, who lives in Northamptonshire but has family in Spalding, started painting ten years ago while she recovered in hospital from a back operation.
She has undergone seven further operations and plans to put her talents to good use by becoming an art therapist.
“I started painting to turn a negative situation into a positive one,” said Becca, who studied fine art at university. “I found art really therapeutic and it helped to take my mind off things. By becoming an art therapist I hope to help others in similar situations.”
South Holland Open Arts, which has a wide variety on display including paintings, drawings, photography, mosaics and sculptures. runs at the South Holland Centre in Spalding until Thursday (March 12).
