Malton painter wins prestigious Artist of the Year award

Nga Ngo Quynh, from Malton, was named as the national Artist of the Year with her painting Before the Night Falls in an award organised by packaging and delivery company PACK & SEND.

2026 marks the second year in a row the competition has been won by a North Yorkshire artist, following Cawood-based Sophia Hood’s win in 2025.

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Competition organiser PACK & SEND specialises in the shipment of fragile, large, unusual and valuable items, and has previously handled works by Banksy, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Tracey Emin and Jeff Koons amongst others.

PACK & SEND Marketing Director Sam Whittaker expressed his delight at announcing Ms Ngo as the winner.

He said: “Influenced by rural environments and shifting weather, her work has been described as reflecting an interest in stillness, light and the subtle presence of human life within the land.

“Through restrained composition and layered mark-making, she seeks to create spaces where narrative remains open, allowing viewers to pause and reflect.

“Her practice continues to develop toward contemporary exhibition contexts, with a focus on visual impact and mood within the landscape.”

Born in Hanoi, Vietnam, Ms Ngo has lived in the UK for the past four years.

She has described the winning piece as exploring landscape as a quiet form of storytelling, focusing on atmosphere, memory and moments of transition rather than specific locations.

Speaking on winning the award, she said: “I’m really pleased to have my artwork recognised in this way by PACK & SEND, which has worked with some of the most famous and respected fine artists in the world.

“It’s great to see an international company of their standing supporting and championing artists at grassroots level, helping artists like myself introduce their work to wider audiences.”

Along with the acclaim, Mrs Ngo also received £250 worth of vouchers to support the shipping of her own art with PACK & SEND.

As an approved provider to LAPADA, the largest association of professional art and antiques dealers in the UK, PACK & SEND provide shipping services to galleries, collectors, dealers, artists and exhibitions around the world.

For more information about Nga Ngo Quynh’s art, go to https://www.instagram.com/qnga.rt/. To find out more about how PACK & SEND works with fine artists, go to www.packsend.co.uk/leedsnorth or call 0345 873 9990.