A Japanese woman sits on a chair, hands in her lap, gazing pensively over the shoulder of the artist. A Kenyan shoemaker stares out from the shack he sells his wares from, his look bordering on the hostile, as two little boys peep round the corner at the photographer snapping them in their slum.

This oil painting and photograph are, respectively, the first and second prize winners in this year’s artsdepot open competition, a diverse exhibition of work by emerging and established artists from Barnet and beyond.

John Martin, from Hampstead Garden Suburb, scooped first prize for Seated Lady, while photographer Ambra Vernuccio, originally from Rome and now resident in Burnt Oak, won second prize for her black and white Fundi Wa Viatu (The Shoemaker). Clare Duncan, 19, a former A-level student at East Barnet School, was awarded the Young Artist prize for her triptych oil painting, Portrait, 1.

“I was very surprised and pleased to hear I’d won,” says John, in his 60s. “I opened the prize envelope thinking it could be a £50 B&Q voucher, but it was actually a cheque for £750!”

John is planning to put the money towards a painting holiday, possibly in Marbella.

Seated Lady is one of three oil paintings John has produced of a Japanese woman called Mika – one is in a private collection, the second was exhibited in The Artist Magazine’s annual exhibition, and this, the third, has won artsdepot open.

“I’ve had a very fruitful partnership with Mika,” John laughs.

John paints full-time from his studio in Muswell Hill after a life-long career in public relations and advertising. “I’m having a fantastic time,” he says. “I absolutely love painting.”

Professional photographer Ambra, 35, found her inspiration in the slums of Nairobi in 2011.

“There are lots of little street shops like this man’s, although a lot of them have been demolished now because of gentrification,” she explains. “I was documenting the area and I stumbled across this amazing character in Umoja slum.”

Winning second place in artsdepot open came on the same day that Ambra heard she’d been shortlisted for the Magnum Photography Award. “That was quite a strange day,” she laughs, “both were completely out of the blue.”

  • Artsdepot open 2013 is at artsdepot, Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley until Sunday, September 8. Details: 020 8369 5454, artsdepot.co.uk