IT WAS the show that almost didn't happen.

Unable to find a steward, the 2018 Warwick Show and the Douglas Feez Pavilion almost went without an art section this year.

Committees were formed and lots of thinking done and as photography steward Janet Platz put it, "you can't have a Warwick Show without art!”

With two weeks ago, a steward was found, two in fact, Rhonda Kraak and Rob Brookes, both Southern Downs Regional Council employees.

Warwick artist and show steward Sue Keong said it was a close run thing.

"But Warwick has answered amazingly,” she said.

"In only two weeks we received a wonderful amount of entries and the standard was great.

"There's been tremendous support from the schools again this year - the kids in the region are so passionate about their art.”

Ms Keong said the show brought together a cross-section of different styles.

"Landscapes to portraits, all different mediums from pencil to watercolour and oil paintings.”

Steward Rhonda Kraak, herself an artist was only too happy to step in to help out at the last minute.

"I was very excited to be a part of it,” she said.

"It was amazing at what could happen in such a short time, Warwick has many talented artists and they've really stepped up here.

"Our judge this year was Warwick artist Quita Hamer, who was really impressed with the standard and made a point of saying that those up and coming artists who didn't win a prize have great potential for growth.

"She said all artists must persevere, that they've been given a talent and they must use it.”

The champion painting of the 2018 Warwick Show was awarded to Mt Marshall artist Adele Thomas for "Camp Draft”.

First prize was awarded to Chris Masters for her delightful painting of a dog, "Ripley”.

First prize in the youth section went to Assumption Year 12 student Jacqueline Richmond-Clay for her work, "Contemplation”.

Highly commended awards went to Christine Alley and Shirley Monaghan in the senior art section and to Elliot Plummer and Harriet Plummer in the junior section.