Since the dear, departed Rainbow Festival used to take part in Cassiobury Park it’s only right and proper that Watford Area Arts Forum’s latest competitive art exhibition in association with the Watford Observer, should focus on our area’s largest and most well-loved area of Green Belt. Especially since the show forms part of the new, bigger and improved community arts festival Watford Live!

Aspects of Cassiobury Park, which runs at Watford Museum until Saturday, June 20, features a host of images that bring to life the beauty and diversity of Watford’s park.

More than 25 local artists came forward to submit their works and these were judged by Watford Borough Council’s arts development officer Sophie Ronson, when the show opened last Friday.

In third place was Sian Fenwick’s intriguing mixed media collage Left in which blocks of colour have been ingeniously built up using waste materials found in the park. Second prize was awarded to Don Lanstone, for his striking ultrachrome inkjet picture Cassiobury Park Tree in Black & White. Don also kindly allowed us to use his photographs of the event for this feature.

First prize went to Martin Matthews for his pastel artwork January. Martin recently held an exhibition in Cassiobury Park which raised more than £500 for The Peace Hospice, so the award is a fitting tribute to his contribution to the town.

New to the area, Sophie had no preconceptions of the artists involved. She says of the winning picture: “Martin has used a beautiful colour palette looking at the park at a time when sometimes they can be overlooked. His careful use of whites and purples create a relaxing feel. The composition has been carefully considered and the skill in use of the medium is evident as he has left some areas quite raw, which really adds to the picture’s charm.”