Bishop’s Stortford artist Karen Adams wins Visitors’ Choice award at Harlow Open Exhibition 2025

A Bishop’s Stortford artist’s “striking” painting named Temptation proved too good for visitors to ignore as they voted it their favourite at the Harlow Open Exhibition 2025.

Karen Adams, who lives in Thorley Park, has enjoyed a 20-year career, accomplishing 736 works of art and 65 commissions during that time, and said she was “over the moon”.

“I was so pleased when l found out l was going to be awarded the Harlow Open 2025 Visitors’ Choice Award for Temptation,” said the internationally acclaimed artist, who trained at the Regent Academy of Fine Arts in London and whose works have sold all around the world.

“I was told they had many visitors during the exhibition with many kindly leaving comments regarding Temptation in their visitors’ book, which is always lovely to know when people enjoy viewing your works.

“I’ve taken part in this exhibition over the years, but I’m particularly proud of this because it was the Visitors’ Choice, which was a real surprise, but lovely.

“To me it is a powerful image. It took me just over four months as it is very detailed and was particularly complex. I purposely didn’t want to give it a woman’s name and I thought Temptation was a powerful name – you’ve only got to look at her lips!”

Karen’s work was one of more than 400 chosen to be exhibited at this year’s event, held at the Gibberd Gallery in Harlow’s Water Gardens, and among 219 chosen to be judged. The winners in a variety of categories were announced last month.

Temptation was described as a “striking mixed media piece” depicting an ancient Egyptian woman.

“[It] captivated voters with its bold imagery and richly textured, layered design,” said the Harlow Arts Trust.

“Taking four months to create, Temptation is a testament to Karen’s meticulous craftsmanship and creative vision.”