“The calibre of the entries is certainly much higher than it has been in previous years,” she said.

The motif for 2018 was a keyhole, and it was an elaborate, and no doubt heavy work, that won not only the first prize in the sculpture section, but also the first prize overall.

Constructed out of metal and titled ‘Keyhole Surgery,’ Mr Kervin’s sculpture is immediately identifiable to those who are familiar with his work.

The shape of birds have always featured heavily in the works he creates on his six acre property in Hurstbridge, north-east of Melbourne.

“I have a rather large scrap heap that I scrounge through when I start work on a piece,” he said.

“I’m a bit of a hoarder and collect bits and pieces at garage sales and the like around the district and I kind of let the objects dictate what the finished work will look like.”

The sculpture was purchased by Karen Somervaille who had undergone keyhole surgery herself late last year. 

Newbridge’s David Lake has entered his works into three of the five Textures of One exhibitions and this year his work titled ‘Wood and Iron’ is an amalgam of two locations.

“Many years ago I was travelling through Booligal just north of Hay and I came across this old shed that had the windows all boarded up,” he said.

“It had a real rural charm and aesthetic so I took a whole lot of photos then, and when the motif was announced last year I also used an old shed door here in Newbridge as inspiration.”

His painting was chosen as the winner of the painting and drawing category and also as the Blayney Council acquisitive prize.

Wood and Iron will hang in the council chambers, and eventually, the new gallery and library complex.

Other category winners include :

The motif for 2019 has already been announced and this time around it will be a feather.