An Epsom-born artist has won this year’s Hadley’s Art Prize for his depiction of H.G Wells.

Neil Haddon won AUD$100,000 for his piece titled The Visit. It is a textural painting alluding to Wells’ infamous sci-fi novel, The War of the Worlds.

Neil, who migrated to Tasmania, Australia in 1996, was born in Epsom in 1967. Wells’ book, which inspired the painting, found inspiration from Surrey where Wells’ cycled through.

Mr Haddon said “Wells was a keen cyclist, as he rode, he planned The War of the Worlds, imagining the extermination of humans by aliens.

“Wells also alludes to the attempted genocide of Aboriginal Tasmanians in the opening paragraphs of this book. I grew up in the environs where The War of the Worlds is set. Now I live in Tasmania.”

“I was thrilled to be award the Hadley’s Art Prize. They tell me that this is the world’s richest landscape art prize! Whilst the prize is an Australian one my painting dealt with my migrant story and the connections to the environs of Epsom where I was born and lived for 24+ years. I would love to bring my artwork back one day and show it in my hometown.”

The Hadley’s Art Prize, now in its second year, attracted an unprecedented 640 entries this year—almost double the submissions from its inaugural year—and is believed to be the world’s most landscape art award.

This year the Prize was judged by a panel of three national art specialists – Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Exhibitions and Collections at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Clothilde Bullen, Principal Curator of Art at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Jane Stewart and leading Australian artist, Michael Zavros.

Judge Jane Stewart said despite long deliberations, the judges were united in their decision to award Haddon the Prize. “The Visit is a complex and accomplished painting that raises many questions about landscape, custodianship and contact history.”

Judge Clothilde Bullen said the work had some intriguing elements: “The blue targets hover like eyes gazing at the audience while simultaneously providing a portal into the landscape.

“The artist’s distinctive, refined technique indicates a point of resolution in his practice that is well worthy of the prize.”