Queen must come first, says Darren!

12:20pm Thursday 1st May 2008

When I rang former Bradford College art student Darren Baker to ask if he was taking part in a major new art competition and exhibition in North Yorkshire this summer I was unprepared for his reply.

"I've got a commission to paint the Queen's portrait this summer," he said.

Darren, 32, was recommended by the charity National Children's Home (now part of the National Children's Charity) after contributing works to the Yorkshire Young Achiever's Award.

"They put my name forward. I'm just waiting for the date to be finalised. I heard that I'll get a three-hour sitting in life and that's enough for me to get my references and photographs. I'll complete it in the studio," he said.

Is he nervous about the commission?

"Not at the moment, but ask me 24 hours before I go to Buck House, or wherever," he added.

In spite of this high honour, Darren expressed interest in the A1 Open Summer Art Exhibition, to be held in a converted railway station in Richmond, North Yorkshire and open to the public from July 14 to August 3.

The show is supported by Newsquest (Yorkshire and North-East Ltd), publishers of the T&A, the Northern Echo and the Darlington & Stockton Times.

Prize money for the 12 categories includes a first prize of £2,000, a second prize of £500 and a third prize of £250. There are six other categories each with a prize of £250.

In addition visitors to the show have the opportunity to choose their three favourite pictures and thus confer upon the artists three People's Prizes of £2,000, £500 and £250 for first, second and third prize respectively.

The competition/exhibition is open to all artists, amateur and professional, working or studying in Yorkshire, Humberside, Durham, Tyne and Wear, Northum-berland, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool. In short, the North-East.

Each applicant is allowed to submit up to three pictures in paint, watercolours, pen and ink or mixed media, at a cost of £10 per work.

The venue is a Grade II-listed Victorian railway terminus near the banks of the River Swale in Richmond. It reopened last November as a centre for culture, commerce and the community following a £2.75m restoration programme.

As well as the exhibition space the building contains a two-screen cinema, a restaurant/café area, small business units and public meeting rooms.

The number of works on show is expected to range from between 250 to 500.

Bingley-based artist Jane Fielder was told about the exhibition by a friend.

She said: "It looks very good. I think the prize money is okay because it is spread over a lot of categories, giving everyone a chance.

"It's in a lovely, lovely place and the judges are well-respected. I was thinking that if I did take part I would get together with a few other people and we could travel up there together."

Her only problem is that she is busily engaged in preparing for her first solo exhibition in London at the beginning of June.

"I have to have 20 to 30 pieces ready for the show at Duncan Campbell Fine Art in Kensington."

One of the "well-respected" judges is North Yorkshire watercolour specialist Simon Palmer, some of whose paintings can be seen at Salts Mill in Saltaire.

"I am impressed by what they've done at The Station. I am on the steering committee for the art space. We all agreed that a summer exhibition would be a good way of kick-starting it, getting publicity. My attitude was give it a go'," he said.

The 1853 Hockney Gallery at Salts Mill occupies 10,000sq ft of space. How big is The Station by comparison?

"About half the size. There is a mezzanine floor, and the walls of the old station will have pictures on them. It's a nice location and accessible," he added.

Donald Cline, a member of the organising committee said: "This will be by far the biggest event The Station has staged and it offers a great space for the exhibition. The intention is that it will become a major national event for the art world in the region."

• For full details about the competition, how to enter and the exhibition, go to alopen.co.uk. The deadline for entries is June 13.

Editor's choice