24 July, 2026 0 comments Leave a comment

Summer has arrived in full force, bringing some wonderful news from the art world.

Today I learned that three of my paintings received awards in the 7th Annual Women in Watercolor International Juried Competition. It is an honour I never imagined and one that still feels almost unbelievable.

This year's competition attracted 1,750 submissions from artists in 59 countries. Only 254 paintings were accepted into the exhibition, making these awards especially meaningful.

My winning paintings are shown below.

Third Place – Animal & Wildlife

Love Changes Everything
Varnished watercolour on 24 × 24 inch panel
Currently available at Meta4 Gallery, Port Perry, Ontario

Finalist – Still Life & Floral

Simply Amaizing
Watercolour, 21 × 14 inches
Private collection

Honourable Mention – Landscape & Water

And Nothing Else Matters
Varnished watercolour on 16 × 20 inch panel
Private collection

Receiving recognition in three different categories made the news especially meaningful, as it reflects the diversity of subjects that have inspired my work.

If you browse this year's award-winning paintings, you'll quickly see the extraordinary level of creativity and technical skill on display. Seeing my work recognized alongside so many exceptional artists from around the world makes these honours even more meaningful. Click here to view all the winning paintings. 

I am grateful to Women in Watercolor, an organization founded in 2020 to encourage, support and promote women watercolour artists around the world through international exhibitions and competitions. They awarded me Signature Member status in 2023. My sincere thanks also go to the nine international judges whose expertise made these awards possible.

After decades of navigating the ups and downs of an artist's life, moments like this still fill me with the same excitement I felt as a child. I never take them for granted. Sometimes I simply have to stop and think, "Pinch me, somebody!"

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please click Leave a Comment at the top of this post and let me know which painting is your favourite.

And if you would like exclusive early access to new paintings, studio updates, travel tales, watercolour tips, and exhibition news, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter.

• Tweet