Today, previous Jolomo Awards for Scottish Landscape Painting participants urged artists to enter their work for a chance to win one of the UK’s largest, privately funded painting prizes.

Since their successes at the inaurgural 2007 Awards, artists Ingrid Fraser (2007 Runner-Up) and Jamie Hageman (2007 Shortlisted Artist) have both been inspired by the support they have received as a result of the exposure the Awards have given their work.

2007 Jolomo Awards for Scottish Landscape Painting runner-up, Ingrid Fraser said: ‘When I won the Award I was working in a part-time job, not really getting any painting done, in the same place as many people are a year after graduation. It gave me the confidence to quit the job and dedicate my time to painting, and I’ve never regretted it. I have my first solo show coming up in February. Confidence is the main thing – the Award gave me confidence in myself and confidence in my work.’

Meanwhile, self taught, Jamie Hageman, 2007 shortlisted artist added: ‘ I’m so glad that I submitted my work to the Jolomo Awards. The resulting exposure to gallerists, curators and patrons has made a huge difference to my life and work. Self taught, the support I’ve received as a result of the Awards has given me the conviction to become a full time artist. I’m now regularly exhibiting throughout the UK and looking forward to my first solo show in 2009.’

The artists’ encouragement comes during the run of their latest exhibition taking place at London’s Caledoniart gallery. Amanda Brock, Director, Caledoniart said: ‘We held an exhibition in Mayfair, London with work from the nine Jolomo Awards finalists in March this year. All of the artists sold work and 3 sold out. I have continued to work with a number of them and they are having great success. If it had not been for the Jolomo Awards I would not have been aware of many of the artists. We are very much looking forward to hosting the Jolomo finalists from 2009 in a London exhibition in 2010.’

John Lowrie Morrison, Chairman, The Jolomo Foundation said: ‘The Jolomo Foundation, seeks to help artists of any age and nationality who are living and working in Scotland to develop their painting using the Scottish landscape as a source of inspiration.’
‘It’s great to hear how participating artists are developing their work as a result of their association with the Awards. This is what the Jolomo Awards is about - encouraging artists to take on the challenge of painting the Scottish Landscape and stepping out into the unknown to see where their Art and vision will take their lives, and believing in that vision.’

The Awards application deadline is Saturday 31 January, 2009. The short-list will be announced in April, followed an exhibition of short-listed artists’ work in May (details to follow) and The Jolomo Awards 2009 winners’ presentation at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum on Friday 12 June, 2009.

As a criteria for entry to win a main prize of ￡20,000 and total prize money of up to ￡30,000, artists must live and work in Scotland; have studied at a Scottish College of Art or if self taught, be proposed by a qualified referee.

Renowned Scottish landscape artist John Lowrie Morrison established the Jolomo Foundation in 2005 as a charitable trust to promote and encourage the painting of the Scottish landscape. Through The Foundation he created The Jolomo Awards for Scottish Landscape Painting in 2006 with sponsorship from Lloyds TSB Scotland.

The inaugural 2007 Awards attracted entries from over 80 artists. The shortlist of nine included entries from artists across Scotland, aged between 22 and 62 years. The winner, Borders artist and recent graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art, Dundee Anna King, received
￡20,000. The second Award was won by Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art, Dundee graduate Helen Glassford (￡4,000), with two third equal Awards won by Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen graduates, Ingrid Fraser
(￡3,000) and Rebecca Firth (￡3,000).