Yvonne Brooks and Serafina Amayah Tawse Shine at 2024 Cossack Art Awards

Yvonne Brooks has been honoured with the 2024 Cossack Art Awards People’s Choice award, and Serafina Amayah Tawse has emerged as the overall winner for the competition’s children’s category. Ms Brooks’ watercolour and ink artwork - When the Working Day is Done - captures Pilbara working dogs Cruise and Diamond at rest after a long day. The artist’s manipulation of vibrant pindan colours against the evening sky’s cool hues highlights the beauty of the Pilbara landscape. Cossack Children’s art award winner Ms Tawse’s work - Maighdean na Tuinne - demonstrated the wonders of children’s imagination, through a mythic depiction of a mermaid, surrounded by a whimsical ocean. The judges, Artist in Residence Katie Barron and Dunnart Picture Framing’s Donna Wilkinson, praised Ms Tawse for the powerful expression in her work, noting its exceptional quality given her age. The winners were announced during the Fortescue Children’s Art Day, the concluding day of the Cossack Art Awards exhibition. The event featured art activities, live entertainment and various festivities celebrating the Pilbara region’s artistic talent. City of Karratha Mayor Daniel Scott commended the quality of the winning artworks. “Our People’s Choice winning piece received 42 votes and beautifully explores Pilbara’s contrasting colours and hardworking dogs,” Mr Scott said. “The Children’s Art Awards also showcased remarkable talent, reflecting the strength of our growing arts scene, congratulations to all the winners.” 2024 Cossack Art Awards Results People’s Choice Award When the Working Day is Done by Yvonne Brooks - $3000 2023 Cossack Children’s Art Awards Overall Winner: Maighdean na Tuinne by Serafina Amayah Tawse - $300 5-8 years Category Winner: Playtime by Charlotte Mines - $100 9-11 years Category Winner: Creatures of the Deep by Pia Atkinson - $100 12-15 years Category Winner: Salt n Pepper Squid by Mitchell Gorman - $100 Highly Commended Ages 5-8: Under the Seahorse by Lacina McKenna - $50 Ages 9-11: Into the Deep by Sage Aroha Simmons - $50 Ages 12-15: True Colours by Savannah Lee Simmons - $50 The awards were sponsored by Pilbara Ports, Dunnart Picture Framing, Powertech, Three Birds Creative, and Paintbox.