Fringe Arts scoop Framing Awards
at the 2004 Fine Art Trade Guild Industry Award Dinner.

This year the Fine Art Trade Guild arranged two framing competitions, both with an Olympic Theme because of Athens 2004. The prize is a hand-cast Bronze Trophy as shown in the photograph.

"The Free Thinking Award" enables the framer to produce a piece of work which complies with overall size and value restrictions but allows the framer to "create" a finished article which, in their opinion, expresses the essence of The Olympics.

This year the Award was won by Lyn Hall GCF Adv. with her fantastic colourful piece representing various Pictograms used by the Olympic Committee. The whole piece was made from mountboard incorporating hand and hand machine cutting, and the colours chosen represent those used on the Olympic website. The completed piece incorporates inlays, spacing, a treble mount, "elevated" hand-cut Pictograms and Olympic rings and is framed with a deep simple black moulding. Denglas "Whitewater" glass was used to protect against UV damage and give an "unglazed" appearance.

Lyn comments "I am absolutely delighted to have won this Award because the competition was "hot". It took some time to plan the whole piece, but since I am known as the "mad mountcutter", I have a reputation to maintain for unusual work. It was a very interesting challenge and the completed article now takes pride of place in my workshop".

"The Set Piece Award" is given to the best presentation of a print which is framed by all entrants to this competition. This year the print was of the Olympic Rowing team showing Captain Steve Redgrave with his crew.

Hannah Birtwistle GCF, who has worked for Lyn Hall of Fringe Arts for only one year, won with her tasteful and beautifully executed piece. Hannah chose to reflect the water and speed in the picture by using four mounts, each spaced with foamcore fillets which had been covered and hand painted. The frame was a simple flat Ramin which had been limed to give a softer finish.

Hannah comments "Considering my short time in this career, I am very pleased to have received this Award. I love my work and this just confirms that I am in the right job".

Again, this piece is available for viewing in the workshop.

Both pieces will be on view at the Autumn Fair held in September at the NEC, Birmingham.

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