Molly Godet thought it was a hoax when she first heard she’d won the $10,000 Charman Prize.She was holidaying in the Scottish Highlands at the time and, because organisers Masterworks Foundation were unable to reach her before the awards banquet on Saturday, she learned she’d won the top art award through congratulatory calls and e-mails from friends.“I have to confess that I was astonished when I was told the news and it took some time to sink in,” said Ms Godet. “In fact, I’m not certain that it really has yet. The weird thing is that I have heard nothing from Masterworks, only from friends, so I am wondering if it could be a gigantic hoax.”Artists were given a theme of artwork inspired by Bermuda in the competition, sponsored by businessman John Charman.Ms Godet’s entry, Green Man Gombey, won out over 77 other pieces. The work depicts a palm tree, interpreted as a gombey.“I had completely forgotten about having entered the painting as it was so long ago,” she said. “I had assumed that, as I hadn’t heard, that it had at least been shortlisted, that it had been rejected for the final hang. I was in bed asleep when the calls and e-mails started coming in and it took a while before I figured out what it was all about.”She said had she actually been at the awards reception she probably would have fainted on the spot.“It must have been a bit embarrassing for the gallery to not have the winning artist present,” said Ms Godet. “Had I been given the slightest hint I would have busted a gut to get there. However, I can at least assure you that the Charman Prize winner really is a secret until the announcement, unlike many other high-profile awards these days.”This was her first time entering the competition which has been running for the last five years.“I never felt I had a suitable piece that answered the criteria,” she said. “Although, if possible, I try to attend the openings as they are very exciting. For such a tiny isolated island, Bermuda has a huge storehouse of talent and it is always fascinating and humbling to see such a huge array of work, much of it from artists with whose work I am not familiar. And the credit for this must be almost entirely down to Tom Butterfield and John Charman to have devised something that brings it out for all to see.”She planned to use the prize money for her son Charlie’s college fees. He’s pursuing a master's degree in fine art at the Royal College of Art.“I think that money earned from art should go towards more art,” said Ms Godet.Her piece was chosen as an outstanding example of the competition’s four judging criteria: design and composition, use of materials, distinctive and convincing style and source of inspiration. The 2012 judges were art appraiser Betty Krulik, conservator John Slavin and Doina Popescu, director of the Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto.Said the judges in a joint statement: “This work is a mature confident watercolour. The artist has complete mastery of the difficult medium. It was deftly applied, with confidence and maturity. It is a tour de force, of watercolour technique, with a simple grace and beauty. The watercolour is beautifully placed on the page with graceful composition yet a dynamic energy. It seems effortless, but it is beautifully balanced. We were taken by the mysterious element, a fusion of ritualistic and organic. Ms Godet realised the mystery of the Island, with subtlety. We loved the balance between the literal and the anthropomorphic, the gombey being unique to Bermuda. The dignity of the presentation engages the viewer, it is elegantly matted and framed.”Said Masterworks founder Tom Butterfield: “The winner this year is proof that when form and content meet colour and composition, a clear and distinct message is made. We continue to be amazed at overall quality and talent found on these Islands. We thank John Charman for drawing that talent out. Masterworks Museum is once again proud to host this most prestigious prize.”In her artistic statement Ms Godet said: “When I paint Bermuda, I like my work to look rather traditional and yet hold just a little something weird probably because that is the Bermuda I grew up with and know is a lot stranger than it first appears.”Prizes of $2,500 were awarded to Gavin Djata Smith, Teresa Kirby Smith, Alan C Smith and Libby Cook Toppan for art cited as outstanding examples of each of the four criteria. Twelve honourable mention prizes of $100 were also awarded to artists that embodied strong elements of each of the four criteria Zoe Dyson, Llewellyn Emery, Graham Foster, Nancy Frith, Kelly Hunt, Stephen West, Dwayne Caines, Vaughn Evans, Janet Percy, Jacqueline Alma, Peri Nolan-Trott and Nancy Hutchings Valentine.An exhibition of all Charman Prize entries is on now in the Butterfield Family Gallery at Masterworks until January 3. The museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, Sunday 11am to 4.30pm. Admission $5, free for members and children under 12.