Meet The Judges

Alison C. Board

ARTIST, TUTOR & LECTURER

Mixed media specialist, author, private tutor & lecturer at Arts University Bournemouth; Alison comes with a wealth of judging experience and is a long-standing pillar of the SAA community.

Alison is a powerful advocate for forging your own creative path. She encourages you to paint with passion and put a little something of yourself into your art.

@aliboardartist
learningtopaint.co.uk

Quick questions with Alison C. Board

• What is your proudest accomplishment so far in your artistic career?
  With my art, that would probably be my last exhibition when I was able to raise funds for a wildlife charity through sales of my work. In teaching, I would have to say being awarded a Visiting Tutor position at the university where I studied for my Fine Art degree.
• What’s the best piece of creative advice you’ve ever received?
  To be authentic. No matter what you or anyone else thinks you ‘should’ be doing, be true to yourself and whatever it is you are trying to say. Sometimes (often) that isn’t easy amongst the noise of competition, trend and self doubt but when you look back at what you have created it will be fulfilling and genuine.
• What’s your go-to way to get out of a creative block?
  To do something else creative without pressure such as bake a cake, read a book, watch a movie or be in nature. We are so busy that we can get in our own way at times and often devalue pursuits that we forget are as equally creative as picking up a brush.
• What are you looking for when you’re judging a competition such as AOY?
  To learn something about the person that created the work. Am I able to see what inspired them, and it could be anything – subject, medium, colour, texture, story, if it has been communicated to me then it is successful, no matter what level of ability the artist currently occupies.
• What excites you the most about being a judge for AOY?
  I feel very privileged that people take time to share their work with us. Art is so personal and people hope their work is appreciated by those who view it, knowing how many hours have gone into the planning and execution so I feel honoured that I am able to see everyone’s hard work.
• What advice would you give to artists who may feel discouraged by competition results?
  Try to enter for yourself, not for anyone else. Use it as a benchmark to compare with your previous work and as a deadline to keep you creating finished pieces. Any result is only the opinion of a very small number of people, they might not see what you see and will always be biased in the same way that we all have individual likes and dislikes.

Fraser Scarfe

ARTIST & LECTURER

Fraser, a celebrated artist, won SAA Young Artist of the Year when he was just 17, and has amassed notable achievements since then. Now the Head of Postgraduate Programme at Royal Drawing School London, Fraser shares a wealth of knowledge and drawing tips in Paint & Create magazine.
Fraser remains dedicated to supporting fellow artists.

@fraserscarfe

Rachel Graham

EDITOR OF PAINT & CREATE

Rachel should be well known to you as the editor of Paint & Create. Rachel has a keen eye for all things creative, and loves to see what you have all been up to. Rachel has a keen eye for all things creative and is a cheerleader for members’ artwork.

Adebanji Alade

ARTIST & AUTHOR

We welcome the President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and author Adebanji Alade, back for another year in the judging chair. A familiar face on the BBC’s One Show, and author of ‘Painting People and Places’ and ‘The Addictive Sketcher’,  Adebanji can often be found sketching travellers on the London Underground.

@addictivesketcher

Ray West

ARTIST

Winner of Still Life or Botanical in 2024’s Artists of The Year, Ray joins us as our guest judge for this year’s competition. Ray has shared his wealth of knowledge in the Spring edition of Paint & Create magazine.
His dedication to precision and detail has led him to develop a distinctive hyper-realism style, which is a hallmark of much of his work today.

@raywestart
raywestart.co.uk

Quick questions with Ray West

• What is your proudest accomplishment so far in your artistic career?
  My proudest artistic achievements to date include winning first place in my debut entry in the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) 2024 competition, and of course securing first place in the SAA Artists of the Year 2024. Both honours were awarded for my pastel painting, Reflecting on Goodwood.
• What’s the best piece of creative advice you’ve ever received?
  I have long admired the artistic talents of Michael and Julie Freeman, a remarkable pastel artist couple based in New Zealand. In late 2023, I had the privilege of joining their mentoring group, an experience that has profoundly enhanced both my artistic skills and confidence. Rather than a single piece of advice, their mentorship has provided invaluable guidance across numerous aspects of my practice, collectively making a significant impact.
  Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet Manu Campa, a renowned automotive painter from Madrid, in 2023. His advice to me was to “go big… no, go bigger.” Inspired by his words, I have since embraced creating larger pastel paintings, which I believe have become even more striking and impactful.
• What’s your go-to way to get out of a creative block?
  I consider myself fortunate that I rarely experience creative block. For me, the artistic process begins long before I approach the drawing board. Each year, I set aside time to explore and gather inspiration, whether by attending car shows or simply wandering through London with my camera. I take countless photographs, hoping to refine them into references for future works, ensuring I always have a stock of ideas ready to turn into my latest masterpiece.
  As a hyper-realism artist, each piece requires significant time and dedication, so the challenge is not finding inspiration but maintaining the motivation to start and persevere. To overcome this, I strive to treat each art day as a structured working day, fostering discipline and consistency in my creative practice.
• What are you looking for when you’re judging a competition such as AOY?
  As this will be my first time judging an art competition, I approach the process with the intent of viewing each entry from the artist’s perspective. I will be asking myself, “What inspired them to create this, and have they achieved their intended vision?”
  I will be particularly looking for originality—something that not only showcases creativity but also leaves a lasting impression. Of course, technical skill in the chosen medium and strong composition will also be key factors in my evaluation.
• What excites you the most about being a judge for AOY?
  AOY 2021 was the first art competition I entered, and I was fortunate to have a piece selected for the exhibition. The SAA team did a fantastic job of making all the artists feel truly welcome and valued.
  Now, it is an incredible honor to be part of the judging panel. This role gives me the unique opportunity to view all the amazing entries, not just those selected for exhibition. I am certain the experience will be both inspiring and a valuable learning opportunity, allowing me to appreciate the breadth of talent and creativity on display.
• What advice would you give to artists who may feel discouraged by competition results?
  Participating in competitions should be an enjoyable and beneficial experience. Success may not come immediately, but persistence can lead to eventual recognition. Each attempt is an opportunity to refine your skills and expand your network. Accept potential setbacks as part of your journey and look forward to eventual success. Allow the process to provide ongoing challenges that enable you to deliver interesting and high-quality art for your own and others enjoyment.