ART-LOVERS have just one more day to vote for their favourite entry at a special exhibition at Watchet’s Mayfly Studio gallery in memory of two of the town’s former artistic leaders.

Voting on more than 50 entries which include paintings, photographs, sculpture and craft-work, closes at the gallery at 4pm tomorrow (Saturday, August 31).

Organised by Watchet Conservation Society in memory of artist and gallery-owner Nick Cotton and internationally recognised photographer Bob Cramp, winners of prizes for the best photograph, art piece and junior entry, will be announced in early September. 

All junior entries will receive a certificate and a prize.

Conservation Society chairman Rob Hutchings said the organisers were delighted by the response to the competition and the wide variety of the entries.

“Many visitors have commented on the high quality of the entries and the wide range of artwork from artists aged from six to nearly 90. Well done, Watchet!

“Nick and Bob made a major contribution to arts and creativity in the town and it was important that this event in their honour should be a success - and it certainly has been. 

He added: “The show is a fitting end to a successful season at the Mayfly. It was Nick Cotton’s idea to offer free one-week exhibition space to local artists and crafts-people, some of which had never displayed their work before.”

Rob Hutchings thanked Nick Cotton’s family for making the exhibition possible and also Eli and Andrew Homer for all their hard work in helping to organise the event.

A distinguished painter in his own right, Nick Cotton, who died last December, represented a number of contemporary artists and hosted several major exhibitions. He wrote extensively on local history.  

A leading commercial photographer, Bob Cramp, who died in April 2023, created images for major advertising campaigns including the iconic Conservative Party poster “Britain Isn’t Working,” claimed to have helped Mrs Thatcher to victory.

Rob Hutchins added: “They are both sadly missed and these awards are some small recognition of the work they did to encourage people with talents to realise their potential.”