Refugees at sea painting showing 'small degree of hope' wins World Art Prize

A painting showing hundreds of refugees being rescued by a boat has won the 2017 MS Amlin World Art Vote prize.

Stephen Burgess’s, entitled Refugee Rescue, was inspired by a photograph of 307 Libyan refugees that was taken from an Italian Navy helicopter. It took 53 hours over a six-week period to complete.

Burgess, who is a driving instructor and amateur portrait artist from Buckinghamshire, said that the painting “signifies the small degree of hope that hopefully exists in us all.” He became an active member of the Refugee Support Network after watching a documentary about Syrian and Libyan refugees.

The prize is part of the National Art Competition, which is now in its 21st year and asks the public to vote for their favourite work from the entries submitted.

Burgess’s painting will be exhibited at the 21st National Open Art Exhibition at the Oxo Tower’s Bargehouse in November, alongside 200 artworks selected by the judging panel. The exhibition runs from November 17-26.