Lapping waves provided the background for the opening of a new art exhibition, Tidal Memories, in Penzance recently.

The harbourside exhibition marquee opened during the bustle of the Golowan festival, and visitors were able to absorb the creative talents of the art students from Penwith College in their end of year show.

The exhibition which encompassed work from part time, full time and university level art students wowed visitors with the originality of ideas, depth of imaginative interpretation and creative maturity and all visitors agreed that they had managed this.

At the private view, awards were given to Jasmine Wilson, who received the Martin Ockwell Art Prize, and HND student Andrea Brown who received the The Art Society annual prize from Elizabeth Le Grice. Highly commended were Isabelle Connell and Olivia Tempest, and all three students' work will submitted to the Royal Society of British Artists as part of a National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies initiative, to be considered for inclusion in its 2018 exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.

The new Geoffroi Art Prize was awarded to part-time art student Carole Barody Corcoran for her printmaking, and letters of commendation were awarded to Tegan Shutt, Amy Trembath, Linda Cunningham, and Chantalle Schellekens.

Simon Hartles, art and design lecturer, said: “The power and energy of the sea and its ever changing shapes and colours have inspired artists through many generations. What lies beneath and is out of sight from the surface can allow imaginations to flourish and creativity to bloom. Our students are encouraged to reach outside of their natural boundaries, to experiment with colour and form and to connect with their art.”

“All of the work on show demonstrates the endless creativity within the community of Penwith and encompasses work from post-16 courses – A level and vocational art, university level study, foundation studies and Penzance School of Art part time courses.”