Ilminster Arts Centre has unveiled the winners of its 2026 Photography Open Competition. They include three talented photographers from Somerset and Devon.
The overall winner, Andrzej Stach from London, beat more than 50 entries with an eye-catching colour photograph entitled ‘The Gambler’. He wins £300, thanks to sponsorship from estate agents Greenslade Taylor Hunt.
The two runners-up – Robert Williams from Shepton Beauchamp with ‘Architecture Abstract’ and Sarah Lovett from Seaton with ‘Eclipse Sisters’ – each receive £150, part-funded by Portcullis Lodge in Langport.
James Riche from Ilminster won a special award with his image ‘Rowans in the Morning Fog’ (pictured). His prize is a week-long artistic residency with Awakenings at Wick on the Somerset Levels.
The winning and shortlisted entries are on display at Ilminster Arts Centre until 13 November.
On behalf of the judging panel, Len Copland said: “It was a wonderful selection of submissions, with different perspectives and techniques. It was a hard discussion for the judging panel to narrow the selection down to the final four, but ‘The Gambler’ stood out with its striking, well-executed composition.”
Bryony Tidball, Ilminster Art Centre’s manager, added: “The standard of entries was very impressive. The competition provides a great opportunity to celebrate and showcase some of the UK’s best photographic talent.”
Everyone was welcome to enter the competition and all forms of photography were accepted, including traditional, digital and cameraless images. Photographs had to have been taken in the UK in the last 24 months. No AI images were accepted.
Ilminster Arts Centre is a multi-arts charity established 30 years ago. Based in a former church in the centre of town, it offers a busy programme of exhibitions, performances and workshops, plus a café and a gift shop of products from local craft-makers. For more information visit www.ilminsterartscentre.com
