The Wells Art Contemporary (WAC) competition, held annually in Wells Cathedral, has announced the winners of its 2024 edition. This year's competition attracted nearly 2,500 submissions from artists across 31 countries, showcasing the global reach and appeal of this prestigious event.

The winning and shortlisted works are currently on display at Wells Cathedral, where visitors can view them in a white-wall gallery within the cathedral cloisters, as well as an installation show featuring site-specific works throughout the cathedral and its grounds. The judging panel, tasked with selecting from thousands of entries, ultimately shortlisted 121 artworks by 119 artists, with 19 site-specific installations chosen from almost 300 proposals.

The exhibition, which opened on Friday, 2nd August, saw seven artists honoured with awards, ranging from cash prizes to international residencies. Among the winners is Frances Featherstone, who received the NG Art Creative Prize for her piece Solitaire, an exploration of the relationship between people and their interior spaces, told through narrative-driven oil on linen work.

Joanna Cohn, a student at the Royal College of Art, was awarded the GBS Fine Art Student Prize, receiving £1,000 for her piece All That I Am, a poignant celebration of life, death, and humanity. Local talent was also recognised, with Wells-based artist Jane Manning winning the Somerset Art Works Prize for her graphite pencil drawing that captures the essence of Wells Cathedral's architecture and history.

The Jane Bowe Memorial Award was presented to another Wells-based artist, Sally Wetherall, for her installation I Was Here 2024. This series of 20 books was inspired by the historic carvings found on the stones of Wells Cathedral, embodying the enduring presence of those who have passed through its halls.

Established in 2012 by artists for artists, the WAC competition seeks to create a dialogue between contemporary art and the historic gothic architecture of Wells Cathedral, which dates back to the 14th century. The exhibition, which includes both the award-winning and shortlisted works, will be on display until Saturday, 31st August. The pieces are also available for sale online through the WAC website.

Entry to the exhibition is included with the £14 cathedral admission ticket. For more information on the exhibition and to view the works online, visit www.wellsartcontemporary.co.uk.