Amusement arcade painting wins art award

Insert Coin To Begin was praised as "a celebration of tacky brilliance"

An artist has become a two-time prize winner with her paintings of night-time street scenes.

In 2024, Diane Griffiths, from Newquay, won a prestigious art award for her moody painting of a petrol filling station at night, titled Driving Home.

Now she has collected a prize for Insert Coin To Begin - another night-time work of art, this time of an amusement arcade in Newquay.

Ms Griffiths said winning the People's Choice Award at the SAA [Supporting All Artists] Artists of the Year 2025 event was "outstanding", and it was a "validation that what I'm doing is good, and people like it, and I'm going in the right direction".

Diane Griffiths with Insert Coin To Begin outside the arcade that inspired it

The judges praised the painting of Playland Amusements, on Cliff Road, Newquay, for its "playful chaos".

They said: "This painting is a celebration of tacky brilliance, small thrills, satisfying comfort food and the holiday nostalgia of an evening wandering through a seaside town."

It was a public vote that handed Ms Griffiths the 2025 award.

She said: "I don't have words, it's absolutely amazing to do it a second year and have another award, it's outstanding.

"It's great to have so much support, local support as well, so thank you to everyone who voted."

Her painting of a Texaco garage in Newquay called Driving Home won The People's Choice Award 2024 as part of the British Art Prize and featured in the Artists & Illustrators magazine.

She said: "It's such a validation, all artists require constant validation and reassurance, so it was an amazing boost..."