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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

The 42nd installment of the annual Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show is ongoing at River Bank, and winners of this year’s show were named on June 20 with some familiar faces taking the top spots.

Gloria Ronayne continued her impressive run in the art show by winning the adult division for the third consecutive year. Ryley Kleysteuber, who finished second in the youth division in last year’s show, took the next step and won first place this year.

The Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show is held annually at River Bank & Trust in Clanton in honor of the late citizen and artist Roy Wood. The show crowns three top finishes and an

honorable mention in both youth and adult divisions.

Artwork is submitted for independent judging in the art show, and cash prizes — $100 for first place, $75 for second place, $50 for third place and $25 for honorable mentions are handed out to the pieces of art deemed the best. The artwork subject can be of anything the artist wants to create, but their work must be an original creation and not a copy. Artists may enter up to two pieces of their artwork into the show, and it is displayed at River Bank & Trust for the public’s viewing throughout the rest of June.

Ronayne moved to the Chilton County area in 2016 and immediately jumped into the Roy Wood Art Show. She found success quickly and has placed a piece of artwork in the top three or as an honorable mention each time.

“It is just fun, and I just enjoy doing it (each year)” Ronayne said.

This year, Ronayne took some inspiration from her daughter who sent her a photo of a bowl of cherries that she really liked. She suggested that her mother do it, and Ronayne created a still-life style painting that won first place.

“She sent me a photo and said ‘I think this would really be nice,’” Ronayne said. “I painted it for my daughter … I like the glass appearance, and it was fun to work with to make it look like glass.”

Tommy Crumpton took second place in the adult division with a painting of a church scene set locally. Lucille Sanders created a vivid painting of a cow that won third place, and Donny Finlayson was the honorable mention with a painting of Jerry and Mary Joyce Gilliland.

In the youth division, Kleysteuber improved upon his second-place finish in 2024 with the top spot this year. He created a painting of a bird in great detail and took inspiration from a photo he saw online. He made the artwork using oil paints, the medium he enjoys creating artwork with the most. Kleysteuber said he uses art as a way to express himself and share his abilities with other people. Art is a great way for children to express themselves and break out of their shell, something Kleysteuber has been doing one piece at a time.

All of the artwork entered into the Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show will be on display in the lobby of River Bank & Trust at 620 2nd Ave. N, Clanton until June 26.

 

2025 Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show Winners

Adult Division

1st place: Gloria Ronayne

2nd place: Tommy Crumpton

3rd place: Lucille Sanders

Honorable mention: Donny Finlayson

 

Youth Division

1st place: Ryley Kleysteuber

2nd place: Everlie Harrison

3rd place: Kaili Miller

Honorable mention: Ellie Harrison