An artist based in Seaton has scooped up two awards at this year's Devon Open Studios.

Alex Boon was one of four winners of this year's Devon Open Studios Emerging Artist Bursary and also the overall winner of the Joanna Radford Prize for Excellence.

Alex Boon is one of very few nature journaling educators in the UK. He teaches this transformative hobby both online and in person, intended to get people outside, observing nature and documenting it creatively.

Examples of his work and his teaching schedule may be seen at alexboonart.com

Devon Open Studios runs every year in September. The bursary scheme aims to nurture new talent and to encourage bursary winners to take the next steps in their career. Participation in Devon Open Studios, running every year in September, is funded for each winner, and the artists are offered support to raise their profile.

Alex Boon featured his work at Colyton Artisan Quarter. Alex has moved away from academia, where he worked in environmental science, and now combines his knowledge of nature with his artistic skills. Alex is passionate about nature journalling – creating his own beautiful nature journals as well as encouraging others to do so. Alex believes in the physical and mental health benefits of engaging with the natural environment and keeping a journal. He is keen to help others get involved through the delivery of workshops and courses that combine nature walks, drawing from nature and studio sessions. Alex will be showing his work as part of a group of artists at Colyton Artisan Quarter.

One bursary winner is selected for The Joanna Radford Award and receives a further grant towards materials. Alex is exhibiting at Colyton Artisan Quarter (Umborne Bridge and Finn Studios), Colyton alongside eight other artists this year.

The studio will be open September 9 to 24 September, (the Umborne Bridge is CLOSED Mondays and Tuesdays for workshops, though Finn Studio and Coffee remains open as usual) from 10 until 4pm.

Workshops and free demonstrations are available, the schedule may be found at umbornebridgestudio.co.uk