AN ART competition featuring a landmark building in Ellesmere proved to be a real test of skill for competitors recently.

Seven enthusiastic amateur artists entered the Watercolour Challenge, inspired by the popular TV series and organised by the library team at Our Space in Ellesmere.

The contestants were tasked with producing a drawing or painting depicting the town’s former cottage hospital - which is now home to the library - as part of the Our Space community hub, run by social care charity Bethphage.

It was built in 1906 after a fundraising campaign led by Louisa Jebb, an aunt of Save the Children founder Eglantyne Jebb.

Library manager Sheila Williams was delighted with the outcome and praised the standard of the entries on show.

“We had a lovely day and the event attracted some very talented artists,” she said.

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“Thankfully we were blessed with dry weather, so they were able to draw and paint unhindered in the grounds of the library.

“The judges were really impressed by the high standard.”


The competition was won by Eva Lindberg Bassett, with Chris Lewis and Patrick Courtney taking second and third, respectively.

They were awarded vouchers donated by the Meraki Colour art materials shop, Oswestry.

The judges were local professional artists Pam Bowen and Trudi Graham who were joined by Rosie Rees from Whitchurch, a contestant in the first TV series of Watercolour Challenge 25 years ago.