Judges
Different Judges are selected for each exhibition and are not connected to the HA&CG, and are not members. They are independent and highly regarded within their creative field.
Wendy Penrose is an acclaimed goldsmith known for her distinctive handmade designs. Her creations are more than just jewellery; they are personal expressions of style and individuality, each carrying its own unique story. These are pieces that captivate attention, spark conversations, and invite curiosity.
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Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Wendy's designs reflect the beauty of flowing water, rugged rocks, and delicate leaves. Her work strikes a balance between bold statement pieces and subtle, organic accents, all imbued with a sense of sculptural elegance.
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With a background that combines artistic training at Central St Martin's Art College in London and a university degree in biology, Wendy’s approach is deeply rooted in her lifelong fascination with nature.
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"My love for the natural world has always inspired me," Wendy explains. "I’m drawn to flowing lines, asymmetry, and the unexpected—qualities that echo the quirks and textures of nature. I work exclusively with recycled precious metals to minimize environmental impact without compromising quality. My ethically sourced stones and enthusiasm for repurposing inherited or unworn gems allow me to create meaningful pieces while honouring sustainability. Together, we can craft beautiful jewellery that doesn’t cost the earth."
The natural world infuses Kim Thompson's work and life. Ventures have taken her to the Himalayas researching now Leopard habitat, on horseback through the mountains of Catalonia and on camping safaris to Botswana. She lives on the edge of the New Forest National Park in southern England, an area which provides an endless inspiration for her work.
Kim's paintings have attracted buyers from around the world and have been
sold at Christies' and Sotheby's Wildlife Art Auctions. Customers include HRH Princess Michael of Kent and Royal Doulton.
A training at Dyfed College of Art and career as a wildlife illustrator has had a direct influence on the way Kim works. Studying taxidermy and learning the discipline required to research and represent a huge variety of creatures
embedded a process which now guides her painting method.
Kim exhibits at the Exhibition of Wildlife Art in The Wirral, with the Society of
Women Artists (SWA) and Society of Equestrian Artists (SEA) in the Mall
Galleries and with the Society of Feline Artists (SOFA), where she has received many awards, including the Princess Michael of Kent Watercolour Award with the SWA and the Stephanie Kay Manchipp Award with SOFA.
A regular traveller to Botswana, Kim leads painting and photographic safaris to the wilderness of the Okavango Delta.
Tom Cartmill judged the Autumn exhibition October 2023.
Tom Cartmill is based in Reading. Now settled in Berkshire, Tom has spent much of his adult life overseas, particularly in New Zealand, Southern Spain and Sicily. His work is exhibited widely and can be found in numerous private collections around the world, and also in a growing number of public and corporate collections.
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Tom has gained recognition for his drawing: his work having been selected for a number of major exhibitions including the RA Summer Exhibition, London; The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh and the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol. He also won the Rabley Editioning Prize in 2017 (seeing the launch of a new print edition at the London Original Print Fair at The Royal Academy of Arts, in 2018).
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Amongst other exhibitions, his drawings have been selected for the Derwent Drawing Prize, Wells Art Contemporary, The National Open Art Exhibition, The Discerning Eye, The Art Gemini Prize and the The New Art Prize, which toured the UK during 2020 and 2021. In 2022, on the strength of his submitted mixed media works, Tom was selected as a 'Future Now Artist' for the Aesthetica Art Prize 2022.
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