LYME Town Mill's Open Art Competition saw a record 8,000 visitors to the exhibition.

The fourth biennial competition from August 9 to September 7 also had record entries with artists from further afield than ever before.

Mill gallery representative Margaret Osborn said the standard was higher than ever with both floors of the gallery needed to display the varied work.

First prize went to Elly Scrivener's View from Ashmore', an etching that Mrs Osborn said proved that small is beautiful and was a credit to the judges' sure knowledge of an excellent work.

Second prize went to Frances Hatch's Shippards Chine', a generous abstract watercolour executed in browns and whites.

Tony Scrivener's Sandbanks Winter', a stark oil painting with haunting pinks and whites, was highly commended, as was Beresford Pealing's Paths Meet', a masterful oil painting with yellow and orange hues executed with palette knife.

Charlotte Miller's Chalk Hill', a subtle oil landscape, was commended, as was Heather MacGregor's Tidal Stream'.

Mrs Osborn said other work which stood out was a small etching by Barbara Green called The Red Pot', and a particularly absorbing study of Beer Cliff Walk' by Fran Rees which cleverly concentrated the eye below the horizon giving a strong composition executed with great aplomb.

Mrs Osborn said: "An amazing 8,000 visitors to the show is a fantastic vote of confidence for the Town Mill, and the People's Choice' was John Ombler's Cobb View', a tribute to his active support of the galleries.

"Special thanks must go to the generous sponsors, Catherine and Laurence Anholt, Suzie Cole, Janie Prince, Chris and Hilary Wicking at the Coombe Street Galleries, Hilary and David Highet, Gill Evans and Town Mill Bistro's Taste of Asia for their People's Choice' prize of a meal for two.

"Thanks also to the judges, Anna Powell, curator of Slader's Yard Art Gallery, West Bay, and Simon Barber, editor of Wessex's leading arts magazine Evolver, and the superb hanging of the exhibition by Christine Allison, John Ombler and David Highet."

The next Lyme Open will be in 2010 but watch out for the Open Photographic Exhibition in 2009.