Washington Green celebrated an outstanding night of success at this year’s Art & Framing Industry Business Awards, scooping two top artist awards as well as being a finalist in the Industry Customer Service Award.

The Best-Selling Published Artist award was presented to Lawrence Coulson. Lawrence, who also won last year’s Up & Coming Artist award, was delighted with his win. “Thanks to Washington Green, my work has been seen all over the UK and it has been an inspiration to have been in such close contact with buyers. Hard work doesn’t necessarily translate into success but I have been lucky enough to enjoy both for the past year or so.”.

The Up & Coming Published Artist Award was made to Mark Spain, in recognition of two hugely successful years of publishing with Washington Green. “The award is a great endorsement of how Mark and Washington Green are working together” said Jonathan Kearns of Washington Green. “While Mark has been a printmaker and artist for many years, he has only been creating the figurative work for which he has won this award during his short time with Washington Green”.

In addition, the evening was also a huge success for both Castle Galleries and The Halcyon Gallery. Castle Galleries, a Washington Green partner, won the prestigious Art Retailer of the Year. The company has continued to expand, with this year’s opening of its Southampton branch, taking the total to seven. Owner Ian Weatherby-Blythe thanked his staff for their unswerving commitment, Washington Green for their active support and encouragement and its artists for a quality of work which made it so saleable.

The Halcyon Gallery was presented with the Sales Promotion award for the touring exhibition and book by Kim Donaldson. “Kim Donaldson’s Impressions of Africa certainly captured the imagination of the hundreds of people who came to view the exhibition at our gallery in Mayfair,” said Charlotte Rostern of Halcyon Gallery. “The exhibition and associated book, Africa: An Artist’s Journal, have already received a highly commended prize from the V & A Illustration Awards”.

The awards took place at the Royal Court Hotel in Coventry on May 17th, with over 200 artists, gallery owners, framers, publishers and suppliers attending.