Winners were announced by judge John McDonald, an art critic for the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, September 2, at the exhibition’s gala opening at Manning Regional Art Gallery.

The competition attracted 335 entries, with 60 finalists selected for exhibition.

Mr McDonald said the field of artists was “of a very high standard”.

Second prize of $3000 went to Peter Churcher from Port Douglas for the oil on canvas work titled Kaue.

The Robin Norling Bequest Prize of $1000 was won by Nick Mourtzakis from Collingwood, Victoria for his oil on linen work 'Cadmium Green'.

Highly commendeds were awarded to Zai Kuang from Clayton, Victoria, for the oil on canvas 'Dry Season'; Stephen Bird from Maroubra, NSW, for glazed earthenware 'Delilah and Samson' and Mark Feiler from Brisbane for his archival print on cotton rag 'AlanaBlu2'.

Mr McDonald said the Manning Gallery is very lucky to have major sponsors including Dr Phillip Walkom and Dusty Walkom give so generously year after year.

2017 marks the third time over the past 25 years the theme of 'Naked and Nude' has been applied to the Manning Art Prize.

“Naked and Nude refers to two things - firstly, the long standing tradition of ‘The Nude’ as a person who is bare with no covering or decoration and secondly, the wider definition of something that is revealed, laid bare, unmasked or vulnerable,” said acting gallery director, Rachel Piercy.

The collaborative partnership of the FOGs Art Fund, the Manning Regional Art Gallery and Friends of the Gallery provides a platform for local and national artists to showcase their work.

The winning entry is acquired by The Friends of the Gallery and donated to the Manning Regional Art Gallery’s permanent collection.

The exhibition will run until Sunday October 15. The gallery is open 10am to 4pm Wednesdays to Saturdays and 1pm to 4pm on Sundays.