GREG Gilbert, frontman of popular Southampton band Delays, has won an award at the Royal College of Arts National Open Exhibition.

The singer/songwriter, who has had hits with Hey Girl and Long Time Coming, has been focusing on his art this year.

As previously reported in the Echo, he has already had two local solo exhibitions – at Harbour Lights Picture House in Southampton and the Everyman cinema in Winchester.

He also had two pieces accepted into the annual St Barbe Open Exhibition in Lymington and won the Beaulieu Fine Arts Award with his piece Affinities 1.

His ball point pen drawing, Boscombe Biro Miniature, was one of around 100 pieces selected for inclusion for the Royal College of Arts National Open Exhibition out of some 1,700 entries.

At the weekend, he won the award for being the ‘Best In The South Of England’ at a private view of the National Open Art Competition.

He told the Echo: “It feels like so much has happened since my first exhibition at Harbour Lights in March.

“I’m really proud to have been selected for this year’s National Open Exhibition and displayed alongside artists I’ve admired for some time.

“Winning the award is hugely inspiring, and I hope to grow and progress my practice from it.”

His piece was also shortlisted for the National Open Award.

Delays have been taking a bit of a break as two of the band have recently had children, but they are still together and are preparing for their regular Christmas gig at The Brook in Portswood in December.

  • The exhibition runs at the Royal College of Art in London until November 7 and at The Minerva Theatre in Chichester from November 14 to 30.
  • Search for Greg Gilbert – Artist on Facebook or contact info@greggilbert.co.uk for details about arranging commissions and prints.