The work of 145 artists from Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire is now available for the public to enjoy online until the end of August as part of a new exhibition. 

The annual Three Counties Open Art Exhibition, which usually takes place in the historic Burslem School of Art, was this year transformed so that local artists would be provided with a platform to showcase their works, in spite of the pandemic. The art is organised over six rooms, including a section dedicated to work created during lockdown or inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A film created by Junction 15 to showcase this year's artists

During the official opening a range of prizes were awarded. Winners of the top prizes include Philip Johnson with his joyous portrait Piper who won the Three Counties 1^st Place Award and Chris Moult was awarded the Prestigious Arthur Berry Prize for his quirky character painting Conna, Wonna, Dunna. 

Piper by Philip Johnson (left) and Conna, Wonna, Dunna by Chris Moult (right)

A brand new Audience Choice Award has been launched in partnership with Appetite. 20 pieces of art have been shortlisted and the public are invited to vote for the work that they think deserves to be crowned the first Audience Choice Award winner and be awarded the prize of £250. 

To visit the Virtual Exhibition visit: www.keele.ac.uk/artskeele
To cast your vote in the Audience Choice Award visit: www.appetite.org.uk/audience-choice-vote