Annual Merit Awards

The Annual Merit Awards, open to all Auckland Watercolour Society members, serve as a platform to showcase watercolour works from artists within our group. The event is hosted at the Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa, featuring four main awards along with three merit awards.

The opening night offers an opportunity for networking over drinks and nibbles while celebrating the talent and creativity of our members.

Shanoprasad Kunjappan "Rush Hour" 
  1st Prize                                         
‘Rush Hour’
  Shanoprasad Kunjappan
ENTRY
Chris Ashton "Three sisters. Taranaki" 
  2nd Prize  
 ‘Three sisters. Taranaki’ 
 Chris Ashton                                                                                                                                               
 3rd Prize     
'Etched in the Earth'                          
 Richard Hall                                                                                                                    
Merit
   'Goodbye Madam Alfred’    
Miriam Cutforth

Details

      28th Sept – 26th Oct 2026

  • 2 entries per artist (AWS membership required)

  • $15 per entry

  • Not previously exhibited.

  • Please photograph before framing

  • Entries open now and close 18th September

  • Opening function Saturday 3rd October 3pm

  •  Gordon Harris Albany has agreed to sponsor 1st, 2nd and 3rd with generous prizes of  $400, $200, $100(Gordon Harris vouchers).

  • Factory Frames will sponsor the Emerging Artist Award $100 Factory Frames Voucher.

  • There are also Merit prizes of $50.

  • Hanging instructions: Please read this if you aren’t familiar with the hanging system used by Estuary Arts. This is the latest information. Read

2025 Winners

Thank you also to Gordon Harris and Factory Frames for supporting this awards
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