YOU Choose Winner announced

01 March 2019

​The Coventry Open 2018 is now over – and we can finally announce our YOU CHOOSE! Winner.

Featuring the YOU CHOOSE! Winner on the far left: ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ © Ryan Everson

During the exhibition, visitors were invited to fill out a YOU CHOOSE! voting form for their favourite work on display. After reviewing the votes, we can now announce that Ryan Everson has won over people’s hearts with his large scale painting ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’. The piece shows birds in flight, fruits and jewellery in a beautiful array of colours.

Featuring Ryan Everson and his painting ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’

Ryan Everson’s stunning piece is one of the 99 works that made it into the 2018 Coventry Open. The exhibition showcased a wide range of talent from the West Midlands and Warwickshire, and included paintings, sculptures, photographs, glasswork, and so much more.

Ryan said ‘I am really pleased to have won the YOU CHOOSE! competition at the Coventry Open, a fantastic accolade for me to receive from the visitors to the exhibition.’

His painting ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’ is based on the same titled painting by Hieronymus Bosch, who depicted a scene of earthy paradise strewn with temptations. You can see the full painting and details reminiscent of our winner’s entry below.

'The Garden of Earthly Delights' © Hieronymus Bosch (ca. 1480 and 1505)

Details from 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' © Hieronymus Bosch (ca. 1480 and 1505)

Ryan Everson adds that Bosch’s ‘use of animals, birds and fruit was something I was drawn to for their beauty and sensual qualities.  In my composition I made these elements the main focus, almost losing the human presence within the scene.  Flowers, oysters, jewellery and fabrics continue to echo opulence and sensuality.’

Details from 'The Garden of Earthly Delights’ © Ryan Everson

The buyers of the painting added that they ‘fell in love with the piece at first sight’, and loved the array of birds and jewellery in it.

The Herbert thanks all of the artists who entered the Coventry Open and the judges who selected work for an inspiring exhibition and voters.

#CoventryOpen2018