Thanks everyone,
Kathy, I'll be having a joint exhibition at WWT Slimbridge with Andrew Forkner in March and April next year, otherwise I'll be putting in again for the NEWA exhibition on the Wirral again next summer. The prize is a copy of each of Langford Press' books (very nice prize IMO). Just got to sort out this big mess now that they think someone else has won it, it's possibe they've made a mistake and notified 2 people, but now I've had a letter, I'm not going to let it drop.
Mike, I certainly agree that there is some work there that wouldn't stand any chance of being accepted if it weren't by an established member - a shame that 'good' artwork is decided based upon a reputation and not upon the artistic merits of an individual piece. If Lars Jonsson or Bruce Pearson did a crap painting, then it would be a crap painting by a great artist in my eyes, and not a great painting because it comes from a great artist.
It seems a lot of work was rejected this year, my parents did the honours of removing my detritus from the reject room and said that there was a great deal more there this year than last year, including plenty that should have been in. But I suppose space is at a premium in the exhibition, not so long ago, members were allowed 10 pictures, if I remember rightly, now they can only have 6. Shame that one huge piece put in takes up so much space and results in the rejection of a good few excellent pieces from non-members.