August at the Lavit is a month for celebrating emerging artistic talent, starting with the long-established Cork Arts Society Student of the Year Award Winner's exhibition. The exhibition opens 19th August at 8pm in the Lavit Gallery. This year's winner is Elayne O'Connor. The Kerry-born artist has just completed her Honours Degree in Fine Art Painting at Crawford College of Art and Design. Informed by the paintings of Constable, her work has a traditional approach, working representationally in oils.  The subject matter contained in the pieces is not remote or obscure. Her interest in sport is evident through her depictions of GAA pitches, which are sometimes populated by small groups, or sole, defeated players, sometimes isolated, but always dominated by heavily clouded skies. Elayne has achieved great recognition. She has won many awards including Backwater Studios Bursary, CIT Registrar's Prize, Eli Lily Purchase Prize, Office of Public Works Purchase Prize, UCC Purchase Prize and of course the Cork Arts Society's Student of the Year Award. Her work is also held in Cork Institute of Technology Collection, Eli Lily Collection, Office of Public Works Collection and University College Cork Collection. She is clearly an artist to watch.