Paul Evans was awarded the Eyestorm Prize for Painting at the preview event for Exeter Contemporary Open 2007 last Wednesday 19th September. 230 artists from across the UK applied for the exhibition from which 15 were selected for submission. Paul Evans' painting 'The Leather Museum' was selected by a unanimous decision from the judges.

"Now in its second year, ECO is a significant event that helps to cement Exeter Phoenix's position as one of the leading contemporary arts venues in the South West. ECO was initially conceived to provide a platform for emerging artists and it certainly appears to be doing just this."

Christine Jowett, Gallery Manager Exeter Phoenix

'The Leather Museum' is painted in oil on canvas and measures 100cm by 100cm.

"The painting began as a drawing based on an early pioneering photograph of some wrestlers, but that drawing is now buried deep in layers of paint and beneath a mass of other references that have been brought into play. I love to explore the contrast between transparency and opacity, so the working process involves as much rubbing back into wet paint as it does the use of a brush. The the painting evolved slowly and owes a lot to the mark making of painters that I admire most; within it can be seen brush strokes derived from the work of Bacon, Hodgkin, the Abstract Expressionists, Turner and Rembrandt. If I were to sum it up in one sentence, I would say that The Leather Museum is about rhythm; the adrenaline rush of managing 'happy accidents' and the joy of applying brush to canvas."

Paul Evans' solo show 'After Nature' runs until October 20th at Cupola Contemporary Art, Middlewood Road, Sheffield

The Exeter Contemporary Open runs until 1st November at Exeter Phoenix Arts and Media, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter.

For more information about Eyestorm Gallery visit http://www.eyestorm.com