Winners of the 2015 National Open Art Competition were announced last night (21 October) at the Royal College of Art, opened by Will Gompertz and attended by NOA’s patron Ronnie Wood.

A total of 35 amateur and professional artists from across the UK and Ireland won prizes totalling more than £60,000.

Ronnie Wood sculpted a rhinoceros (see image below) for NOA which was awarded to Tamil artist Reginald S Aloysius.

Other award winners included up-and-coming Bristol Street Artist Jack Tierney.

For the first time an award for a moving image was won by Susan Walsh.

The winning artworks beat nearly 4000 entries after being selected anonymously by judges Hughie O'Donoghue RA, David Lister, Rebecca Hossack, Vanessa Branson and Amanda Harman.

Over 130 selected works will be exhibited at NOA’s Winter Exhibition at the Royal College of Art (21 Oct – 1 Nov). The winners will be exhibited at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester in December (1-13 Dec).

NOA 2015 judge Hughie O'Donoghue RA said: 'Judging thousands of art works is a challenge, but the experience is essentially a privileged glimpse of the creative energy at work in Britain and Ireland today. I’m impressed with the strength and diversity of the submissions. What comes through for me is a sense of invention and a seriousness of intent, sometimes along with irreverence and humour. It’s a healthy picture of the art in these Islands'

All entries to this year’s competition are for sale at the exhibition and through NOA’s website.

National Open Art’s Winter Exhibition takes place at The Royal College of Art, Kensington between 21 October and 1 November. The exhibition is free to enter.

The Winner’s Exhibition takes place at the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester between 1 and 13 December.

For more information visit www.thenationalopenartcompetition.com