Artist Graham Foster became this year's winner of the $10,000 Charman Prize at a special reception on Friday evening.

Sponsor and Patron of the Charman Prize, John Charman announced the winner at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.

"I am over the moon," said Mr. Foster. "I was up against 102 other artists. It was a great surprise."

He said he was happy as any one would be with the recession looming. He said he could now sell the winning piece for over $9,000.

His artwork, entitled 'Mechanics of Extinction', was chosen for being an outstanding example of the competition's four judging criteria.

The piece is a commentary on overfishing and resulting resource deficiencies.

"If you hoover up the ocean, then nature doesn't stand a chance," said Mr. Foster.

This piece of artwork will now be included in the Masterworks Bermuda Collection as part of the Masterworks Foundation and Museum of Bermuda Art.

Four artists received Best in Category awards of $2,500 each, and 12 artists received honourable mention certificates from Mr. Charman at the reception attended by over 500 artists, members, and guests.

Best in Category Prize for Innovation was awarded to Jon Legere for his mixed media installation artwork entitled 'Indulge'.

Watercolourist Tracy Williams was awarded Best in Category for Use of Material for her work 'We Never Knew When We Had It Good'.

Lynn Morrell received Best in Category for Serious Social Intent for her textiles work 'Still Hanging Together: An Alternate View of Marriage'.

Frank Dublin was awarded Best in Category for Distinctive and Convincing Style for his pastel work 'Fishy Story'.

Honourable Mention Prizes of $100 Gift Certificates to the Stationary Store in Hamilton were distributed to 12 artists whose artworks contained strong elements of the four judging criteria.

Honourable mention winners and their artwork titles were Chris Dawson ('Debt Becomes Us'), Alwyn McKittrick ('Shree Byes in a Boat'), Kevin Morris ('Absynthe Minded'), Antoine Hunt ('Terra Auxilium'), Sharon Wilson ('Bling: Theese Things We Pray, Amen');

Dean Walker ('Wide Angle, South Shore'), Sheilagh Head ('No More Black and White-I Only See in Color'), Dan De Silva ('Calypso'), Scott Stallard ('Three Tribes'), Amy Evans ('Knock Down'), William West ('Porcelain Cleat with Walnut Mirror'), Christine Rhodes ('Grief Wreath for a Lost Son').

Competition artworks were judged on four points of criteria: Serious (Social) Intent, Innovation, Distinctive and Convincing Style, and Use of Material. Three judges from outside Bermuda judged the 102 artworks in the competition.

The judges this year were Molly Eppard, Associate Director at the Hollis Taggart Galleries in New York City, Susan Menconi, Partner at Menconi and Schoelkopf LLC Fine Art in New York City, and Peter Zokosky Masterworks Artist in Residence and art instructor at the J. Paul Getty Museum in California.