The winner of the Kilgour Art Prize for 2014 is Alan Jones! Alan will receive $50,000 for his highly original Robert Forrester #2, a painting of the artist's convict ancestor. Alan has depicted his ancestor against the small plot of land granted to him in 1794 which is just along the Hawkesbury River. Alan expressed his delight in winning the prize, taking great joy in the confirmation it gives to his practise. "Something like this... It's like someone saying to you 'Mate you are doing alright, you are going in the right direction, just keep going'... It's hard to get that sort of feedback from other people, it's a lovely surprise." - Alan Jones in Conversation with the Newcastle Herald. The annual Kilgour Art Prize for figurative and portrait painting awards first place to the most outstanding work of art as decided upon by a selection panel. Alan's portrait will be on show at Newcastle Art Gallery from 8 November - 25 January 2015

Alan Jones, Robert Forrester #2, 2013, oil and acrylic on linen, 194 x 179cm