Some artistic differences, but a great deal to appreciate

Art appreciation is a subjective business. And so it proved at the London Jewish Cultural Centre's Art House exhibition, which drew more than 150 enthusiasts, artists and friends to LJCC's Golders Green premises for the announcement of the 2014 prize-winners. On show were 112 pieces from the 260 submitted by professional and amateur artists for the JC-sponsored competition, now in its fourth year.

And in the run-up to awards night, exhibition visitors had the opportunity to vote for their favourite work in a search to find the "people's choice".

The public's view differed dramatically from that of the professional judging panel, comprising JC art critic Julia Weiner, Catto Gallery director Iain Barratt and Christie's lecturer Patrick Bade. They were unanimous in their selection of Theodore Matoff as overall winner for his Mort in Garden acrylic on canvas piece. Second was Aileen Jampel for her etching of The Street and third was Sara Cutler for her oil on canvas, Perplexed. They respectively received £2,000, £1,000 and £500.

Success was not a surprise to Matoff, 83, as his wife, Sue, had a feeling he would win. The architect and lecturer was delighted to be recognised at an event organised by "a grassroots community, with grassroots support".

An impressed Weiner said he was "an incredibly skilled artist. The work looked very professional."

In contrast, Jampel was "overwhelmed" by her selection. "The colour ones take a long, long time. It's very satisfying."

The people's choices were A Rainy Day in Venice by Cheryl Goldhill and New York by Rafi Masher. The artists, who shared the £250 prize, both declined to put their works up for sale. Goldhill, a grandmother of three, would have liked the judges' approval for her painting, which was inspired by a holiday photo. But the appreciation of visitors was "a nice boost to one's confidence. If I had my life again, I would have liked to study art."

Masher arrived late, having learned of his selection in a call from his wife, Talya. "He couldn't believe it," she said, getting off the phone.

The divergence of opinion has led Weiner to question whether a layperson should be added to the judging panel next year. "The professional judges are perhaps more in tune with what the art market is like. The people's choices capture places people love, popular tourist destinations.

"Perhaps in future we should give more money to the people's choice or perhaps we should have someone not involved professionally in the art world as a judge."

Although the mood on the night was celebratory, concern was expressed over the future of Art House in the light of the upcoming merger between LJCC and JW3, which will entail the closure of the LJCC centre.

"Maybe it will be continue at JW3, I just don't know," said Diane Barnett, who has sponsored the event in memory of her art-loving elder sister, Susan Brown. Weiner was "determined it will continue in our new home".

Kim Rosenfeld, whose Mixed Media piece was among those on display, suggested that "now they have a merger, there's more of a reason to hold on to Art House".

Probably the longest distance exhibitor was Sara Ruieneaunu, 26, who travelled from her Timisoara home in Romania to attend. The graphic design student, whose father is Jewish, said Art House had given her a chance to connect to her roots. Publisher Gary Simon, who has painted in his spare time for the past eight years, said he conveyed his Judaism through art.

"It's a lovely way of expressing Judaism. I'm self-taught. I use watercolour in a very loose way. Very fulsome. I give it oomph," added the 57-year-old, who will be teaching his three grandchildren to paint.

Artist Eva Edery, 47, who works on glass pieces in a studio at the bottom of her Edgware garden, said Art House was a means to "get customers".

The top contest entries will also be exhibited at the Catto Gallery in Hampstead in January.