A Unitec painter's unique perspective on romantic imagery has helped her beat out art graduates from throughout the Auckland region for a top arts award. Myah Flynn completed the Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) specialising in painting at Unitec last year and won the top prize at the recent Glaister Ennor Graduate Art Awards. The award comes with a $3,000 prize and the opportunity to hold an exhibition at the McPherson Gallery. A Unitec painter's unique perspective on romantic imagery has helped her beat out art graduates from throughout the Auckland region for a top arts award. Myah Flynn completed the Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) specialising in painting at Unitec last year and won the top prize at the recent Glaister Ennor Graduate Art Awards. The award comes with a $3,000 prize and the opportunity to hold an exhibition at the McPherson Gallery.Myah, who is studying the Master of Design at Unitec this year, says it is a big boost for her fledgling career.

"This will be my first gallery exhibition, and with a dealer gallery no less. I hope this opportunity creates ongoing ties to the art world."

Her award-winning painting, titled Arabian Nights, with its lush colours and romantic imagery, explores recurring themes in her work, she says.

"The overall theme explores narratives surrounding the notions of desire and has elements of both the figurative and abstract. It can be quite ambiguous, but I like that and people get to read in their own interpretations of desire."

The former Katikati College student says that she originally came to Unitec to study 3D animation, but a painting elective in the first year of her degree rekindled her interest in putting paint to canvas.

"I did painting at high school and I guess I felt like I had some unfinished business. I was mediocre at first but it all came together in my fourth year."

Myah says that the lecturers not only helped her to develop her style, they were also a good source of advice on how to survive as an artist.

"Most tutors have real world projects on the side, so they know the scene and have contacts that they can share with us."

She received a Unitec scholarship this year to study the masters degree and says that it is a chance to grow as a painter.

"Only about two percent of artists make a living with their art and it usually means taking on part-time jobs, so it's a lifestyle choice. It can be hard to just find the time to paint."

Image: Arabian Nights (detail) by Myah Flynn