ART
Jane Allan wins THE DOYLES ART AWARD 2025
WORDS: Samantha Sinner PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied
In a beautiful evening of creatives celebrating fine art, judges announced the winners of The Doyles Art Award 2025 last Thursday.
Taking out first place prize, with a $20,000 acquisitive cash prize, was Jane Allan with “Seaside Explorers”. Jane is a Lennox Heads based artist who was delighted to receive the acknowledgement. Jane is an artist living with an acquired spinal injury – which she navigates by painting in unusual positions whilst seated on the floor.
Event Director Sam Sinner says that the winning artwork has sparked healthy debate about what it means to be a representational artist with the style of painting veering away from traditional landscapes such as Streeton and Heyson, and moving towards more modern interpretations.
“We are delighted to see Jane’s work acknowledged as a winner” says Sam. “Representational art is not only realism, but basically any art style where you can immediately understand the subject matter. We believe Jane’s work to be artistically beautiful, mature and confident in its approach, with excellent light play and controlled palette. Jane has used oil with wax to achieve a highly textured piece that conveys the essence and movement of an Australian beach scene.”
The Doyles invited three judges with extensive experience in the art world to choose the award winners. Susi Muddiman OAM (recently appointed Gallery Director of Ngununggula, Southern Highlands Regional Gallery); Amber Creswell Bell, (well known curator and author from Michael Reid Gallery in Sydney); and Jessica Le Clerc, (Art School Co. founder from the Sunshine Coast); all arrived on the Gold Coast to spend hours coming to a consensus on the result. The verdict was unanimous.
Figurative category winner was Seabastion Toast, for her portrait “Ariane” and Still Life category winner was awarded to Patrick Perlstone for “Album Covers and Vessels”.
Celebrating its 21st year and featuring over 500 works on display, The Doyles Art Award is exhibited in Firth Park Community Centre, Somerset Drive Mudgeeraba until the 13th of July. The exhibition is open from 10am-5pm and entry is free.
