2025 Annual Art Awards winners announced

Posted on August 7, 2025

The 2025 Central Highlands Annual Art Awards lit up Emerald over the weekend, with a vibrant opening night celebrating the creativity and talent of artists from across the region.

Hosted at the Emerald Art Gallery, this year’s event brought together the community to recognise exceptional works across a variety of mediums and age groups.

Council is thrilled to officially announce the winners for each category:

Junior (12 Years & Under):

  • First Place: Bonnie Allen | Sunshine
  • Second Place: Vivian Pace | Black Mouth Python

Youth (13–18 Years):

  • First Place: Janke Van Gooswilligen | Roots of Reflection
  • Second Place: Nikita Harris | Seamless Interaction

Digital Art (No Film):

  • First Place: Diane Armstrong | Symphonic Symphony
  • Second Place: Matthew Weeks | Let’s Make a Rainbow

Photography:

  • First Place: Hunter Leitch | Sunset Patrol
  • Second Place: Sandra Ryan | The Skull

3D & Fibre Works:

  • First Place: Michelle Gray & Raelene Bock | Wattle Winds & Woodgrain
  • Second Place: Rolf Bottenbruch | Gorilla

Works on Paper:

  • First Place: Natasha Vought | Frogs of the World
  • Second Place: Tara Lewis | Enchanted Gardens

Easel-Based Works:

  • First Place: Lawrie Stanton | The Site is Now Silent
  • Second Place: Joanne Kerr | Looking Through Rose Coloured Glasses

A special congratulations goes to the recipients of this year’s major awards:

Local Artist Award:
Michelle Gray & Raelene Bock were awarded the 2025 Local Artist Award for their stunning collaborative piece, ‘Letters From The Garden’. This work captivated audiences with its storytelling, intricate detail and connection to nature, a beautiful representation of the depth of talent in the Central Highlands.

CHRC Acquisitive Award:
Nicole Pace has taken home the prestigious CHRC Acquisitive Award for her compelling piece, ‘Lessons From The Rooster’. The artwork stood out for its expressive composition, layered themes, and powerful visual impact. Nicole’s piece will now become part of council’s Art Collection, preserving her artistic legacy for the region.

…But that’s not all!

Community members are encouraged to visit the exhibition in person and cast their vote in the People’s Choice Award, which comes with a $250 prize.

Voting is open from Friday 1 August through to midnight Sunday 17 August 2025 via council’s Have Your Say platform.

Council extends its congratulations to all winners, finalists, and every artist who entered. The quality of work on display this year was nothing short of outstanding.

To view the full gallery, head here.