Local artist wins prize

Local artist Judith Hoste was recently awarded first prize at the Waterford Village Seniors Art Prize for her acrylic work "Natures' Magic".

The exhibition was held at the Waterford Retirement Village on March 10 as part of Seniors Week.

Ms Hoste said her first prize achievement was "very exciting" and "a nice surprise after a lot of hard work".

"All up the painting took me 15 hours to complete... it was well worth it," Ms Hoste said.

Ms Hoste said the inspiration for her most recent work came from a walk she went on in bushland around the Sydney suburb of Cherrybrook.

"The light that was coming down through the trees was such a wonderful sight," Ms Hoste said.

"I just had to start taking photographs.

"It seemed like such a special place to capture."

Ms Hoste began painting classes in 1981 with teacher Ms Ethel Jamieson of the Noonameena studio at Booker Bay.

She has since received many awards for her pieces featuring local scenes, Australian wildlife and wildflowers.

Ms Hoste is also among several other local women featured in Margaret Hardy's book "2007 Significant Women of the Central Coast".

Clare Graham, 12 Apr 2007 Press release, 4 Apr 2007 Judith Hoste