Local Northern Rivers artist and recent Trinity Catholic College graduate Molly Darvall has been named the winner of the Lismore Regional Gallery Friends of the Gallery People’s Choice Award in the 2020 Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize.

Friends of the Gallery president Ron Dowell said seeing the award prize of $1000 go to a local young artist was a wonderful acknowledgement of the Friends’ charter which was to promote emerging artists.

The winning artwork depicts a woman with sparrows. 

The portrait subject was Molly’s sister and was created as part of her High School Certificate Visual Arts subject in 2020. The painting was selected for ARTEXPRESS, an exhibition of highlights from HSC art students across the state, but Molly instead chose to have the work included in the Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize.

Next week, Molly is leaving Lismore to move to Melbourne, where she will study visual arts at Melbourne University.

Molly said “capturing the essence of my little sister in fluttered emotions extends our needs to confide and disguise our emotions in youth culture".

“She is freed and enlightened, however, protected by the realities of perception which are hindered by teenage insecurities,” Molly said.

Ron said lots of votes were cast in the people's choice and Molly was a popular winner.

“People didn’t know the age of the artists when they voted and Molly had just finished high school and her painting was a stand out," Ron said.

“Audiences fell in love with not only the exquisite detail, but the love and care that exudes from the work.

“She did well to attract so many people to her painting and thousands attended the exhibition over the months the exhibition was on."

The Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize is held every two years, with the major prize being $10,000 and the people’s choice being sponsored by the Friends of the Gallery.

The Lismore App will feature a Sunday Profile with Molly in two weeks' time.