Photograph of dramatic cloudscape and peaceful landscape on Uffington White Horse scoops Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize

THREE Oxfordshire women who paint, sculpt and take photographs received awards for their beautiful and colourful works of art in the Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize.

This year’s theme of the Colour and Hues of the Ridgeway were superbly interpreted by the artists, photographers and writers.

More than 130 entries were displayed at the Swire Ridgeway Arts Exhibition in Uffington on April 26 and 27.

Jessica Loeb from Woolstone in the Vale of White Horse won the overall prize for her photograph After the Storm of the dramatic cloudscape and peaceful landscape on the Uffington White Horse.

Caroline Vivian from Aston Tirrold in South Oxfordshire painted Late Spring From the Top of the Ridgeway during a cycle ride with her husband Andy to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Caroline won the wall art category.

Barbara Oster, who lives in Bletchingdon and loves walking the Ridgeway, sculpted The Traveller with Quarterstaff because she feels a special connection and dynamic experience with the people who have walked it for centuries. It is carved from Rajasthan stone.

Sarah Mills, who won the written work category, lives in Devizes. She wove the colours of the flowers and grasses around the Uffington White Horse through her enigmatic poem Auras of the Ridgeway.

Jessica said her award-winning photo was taken soon after a torrential downpour had passed through the vale. She waited patiently for the right moment when a sheep started grazing on the Uffington White Horse chalk figure.

Hedley Thorne (familiar to @newburytoday readers for his beautiful drone photos) who judged the photography category, said: “There is so much to please the eye in this photograph. The subtle gradient of the blue sky offsets the golden sunset colour of the hillside, itself contrasted against the fresh minty greens of the fields. Add in the contrast between the powerful storm clouds and the peaceful environment, and the main subject being a sheep that is unaware of the deep influential history of the iconic White Horse that it is innocently feeding on.”

'Robin Danely OAS, who judged the Wall Art, chose Caroline Vivian’s painting, Late Spring From the Top of the Ridgeway as the winner for its sensitive and harmonious colour palette, elegant composition, and evocative sense of space.

All entries submitted to the Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize are available on the Friends of the Ridgeway website https://ridgewayfriends. org.uk/swire-ridgeway-arts-prize-2025-exhibition/

The Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize has been organised by the Friends of the Ridgeway since 2017.

There are four categories, open to professional and amateur artists, photographers and writers: wall art of any medium; photography; sculpture including glass and ceramics; writing in prose and poetry.