AFTER winning the Editions Liverpool Open Art competition last month, Carol Miller admitted she was in a bit of a whirl.

She's also on a roll... this month she’s brought off a double by taking first prize in the St Helens Open at The World of Glass.

It was, Carol says, a previous win in the St Helens Open that helped set her on the path to success.

“A few years ago I took the landscape prize and this gave me the confidence to enter other competitions I wouldn’t have tackled before,” she explained.

“I was then given a solo exhibition at The World of Glass and I haven’t looked back since."

Carol’s work, along with that of the other winners - who all shared £1,900 worth of prizes - is on display at The World of Glass until September 1.

The exhibition is a collaborative project between with The World of Glass, St Helens Council, The Rainford Trust and the Star newspaper.

Second prize this year went to Peter Humphreys for his portrait Pete while Vincent Kelly took third prize for his painting of The Liverpool Palm House.

Carol Miller prefers to create landscape paintings - like her prizewinning ‘Security’ - from imagination rather than real locations.

“I just throw some paint on the canvas and then see what mood it suggests. For me it’s all about mood.

“Despite my recent success, I can’t afford to sit back and take it easy because I now need to provide work for a solo exhibition at Liverpool’s Editions gallery.”

Carol also keeps busy running an art group for the staff health and wellbeing programme at The Walton Centre in Aintree, where she works.

St Helens Open category winners:

Abstract: Counterpart – Rhyannon Parry.

Drawing: Helped Up/Held Down – Claire Weetman.

Portrait: Young Sweep – Cherise Foster.

3D: RAKU – Annette Lewis.

Photography: Deansgate – Andrew Sparkes.

Landscape: Alpine Landscape No.10 – Keith Bentham

Highly commended:

Steam Punk Café Racer – Mark Crosby.

Lowry – Theresa.

Murmering – Rebecca Ainsworth.

Teamwork – Chris Conway.

Gamble, Early Morning – Jack Williams.

Anxiety No2 – Wendy Mumford.

Horizon II – Jacqui Priestley.

Haybarn Kings Moss – Mali Davies.