Jerwood Drawing Prize 2011 exhibition celebrates unknown in Homage to Anonymous

Exhibition: Jerwood Drawing Prize 2011, Jerwood Space, London, until October 30 2011

Of the 60 shortlisted artists who yearned to see their name in bright lights by winning the Jerwood Drawing Prize this year, the artist who edged it was more interested in those who remain unknown.

Homage to Anonymous is a large-scale drawing by Gary Lawrence, an Essex entrant working in ballpoint pen on the back of discarded posters in a tribute to unrecognised artists throughout history.

“It began in 2010 as a simple view of Pothea,” he says, reflecting on his holiday to the principal town on the Greek island of Kalymnos.

“While working on it, I began thinking of other artist’s views of towns, especially El Greco’s View and Plan of Toledo.

“While checking my El Greco book, I saw View of Cadia and View of Toledo. All these historical references, plus my own holiday snapshots of Kalymnos, were combined over many months to finish the drawing in June.”

A Portsmouth Fine Art graduate who also studied in Illinois, Lawrence is the latest recipient of the £6,000 fund for the longest-running annual open exhibition for drawing, contested by around 3,500 hopefuls this time around.

Whitechapel Gallery director Iwona Blazwick, White Cube’s Tim Marlow and artist Rachel Whiteread awarded the £3,000 consolation to Londoner Jessie Brennan for a five-metre long pencil drawing, The Cut, and two £1,000 student prizes to Nicki Rolls and Kristian Fletcher.

The winning pieces and selected works from the finalists are on display in an exhibition which will tour nationally after its spell at the host venue.

• Open 10am-5pm (3pm Saturday and Sunday). Admission free.

More pictures from the show: