A JUDGING panel comprising broadcaster Harry Gration, artist Annabel McCourt and international curator Simon Hedges has completed the challenging task of choosing final artworks for Scarborough Art Gallery’s exhibition, East Coast Open.

Running until April 28, East Coast Open shines a spotlight on artistic talent from the north east coast. As part of its open submissions process, people across the region sent in artworks for the opportunity to be exhibited in the gallery’s bi-annual showcase. Local talents of all ages, professionals and amateurs, responded with a diverse range of art - including classic landscapes, modern prints, photography and ceramics.

Facing the unenviable task of whittling these entries down to the final selection, judges Harry Gration, Annabel McCourt and Simon Hedges have picked a total of 109 works for the East Coast Open exhibition.

Six pieces have been deemed the top entries for the ‘Judge’s Selection’, from which visitors are invited to choose their favourite. The overall winner will become part of Scarborough Art Gallery’s permanent collection.

Curator Simon Hedges said: “Myself and fellow judges Harry Gration and Annabel McCourt have been thrilled to oversee the final selection of art submitted for East Coast Open. The standard of entries has been really high, with Scarborough Art Gallery receiving a wealth of striking and diverse works from professional and amateur artists across the north east coast. The final pieces curated for East Coast Open demonstrate the fantastic depth and range of artistic talent we have locally, with the added element of one piece becoming a permanent fixture of our gallery as we begin a year of new exhibitions.”

The Judge’s top six are: A Walk in Woodend Gardens, Jean Stephenson; Alternative View of Scarborough, Chloe Vanns; Two Boats Passing, Karen Turner; This Ragged Coast, Jill Grinstead; Staithes Rooftops, Carole Sinclair; Evening over South Bay, Liz Cogan.

For more information go to www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.com