John Moores Painting Prize - Walker Art Gallery

Neal Rock, Inked Prosperon / 0813

The John Moores Painting Prize is at the Walker Art Gallery until 30 November 2014.
The biennial John Moores is, I think, the best of art competitions. Established in 1957 it has a venerable history and includes amongst its past winners (never mind the roll call of participants) Patrick Heron (1959), Roger Hilton (1963), David Hockney (1967), Euan Uglow (1972), John Hoyland (1982), Lisa Milroy (1989), Peter Doig (1993) and Dan Hays (1997). (See the full list here.) This year's official winner will be announced in September from the shortlist below. However, my winner is Neal Rock (see above) for his exquisite, Baroque extrusions of paint. (Rock is, incidentally, a graduate of Fine Art at the University of Gloucestershire, 1996-9).  
Others which caught my attention include:

Jane Bustin, Christina the Astonishing

James Byrne, Book

Wayne Clough, Citadel

Tim Renshaw, nowhere

Trevor Sutton, Christow

However, the actual shortlist is as follows:

Rae Hicks, Sometimes I Forget That You're Gone

Juliette Losq, Vinculum

Mandy Payne, Brutal

Alessandro Raho, Jessica

Rose Wylie, PV Windows and Floorboards

See a gallery of all the selected work here.