Slump/Fear (orange/black), 2004, by Alexis Harding, John Moores 23 winner.

The £25,000 first prize in the prestigious John Moores 23 exhibition has been awarded to Alexis Harding for his oil and gloss paint work, Slump/Fear (orange/black).

Kicking off the Liverpool Biennial visual arts festival, the John Moores exhibition opens to the public on September 18 and is a showcase for the very latest in contemporary painting.

The winner of first prize was revealed to a gathered throng of journalists at The Walker Art Gallery by competition judge and Director of the Contemporary Art Society, Gill Hedley.

Just moments after hearing her announce his name, Alexis Harding confided in the 24 Hour Museum: "I need a cigarette I think".

Standing next to his painting, its fumes wafting into the gallery, the artist added: "You spend everyday with them and I thought it’s just great that it’s in the show with such good company. I’m so surprised and excited, it helps pay off some debts and I’ll be able to look after my girlfriend."

Alexis Harding stands in front of his winning painting. © Richard Moss/24 Hour Museum.

A moving orange mass with a black grid partially ripped away from on top of it, Harding’s painting, as he pointed out, is both fragile and striking.

"I’ve worked hard for nine years since leaving college in 1995, but this painting surprised me when I made it," he said.

"I think some of my paintings work better than others and this one seems to be just at the point of falling. So it’s got that fragility, but I also want my paintings to be really upbeat and beautiful at the same time."

Speaking to the 24 Hour Museum, Gill Hedley explained what made Harding’s work stand out: "It’s a serious painting and it isn’t like anything else," she said.

"I don’t know anyone else producing sculptural paintings in such a way. It’s got skill, integrity and, perhaps most important of all, it looks a winner."

Outlaw Vortex, oil on canvas, by Alex Pollard.

The John Moores exhibition was first held in 1957, just six years after The Walker re-opened after World War II.

Open to artists living or based in the UK it has become Britain’s largest contemporary painting show and is often the first step in a long and successful career - previous winners include Patrick Heron, David Hockney and Richard Hamilton.

Standing amidst this year’s crop, National Museums Liverpool’s Keeper of Art Galleries, Julian Treuherz explained: "It is, and always will be, essentially about painting, which, as you will see, there’s still a huge variety within this practice."

This year, for the first time, the top prize winner doesn’t have to hand his work over to The Walker, as has previously been tradition, but is free to sell it to them in a separate negotiation.

Last of the French night marcher (Culloden III), oil, distemper and charcoal on linen, by Dougal McKenzie.

Another addition for 2004 is the creation of a public vote. Visitors to the exhibition can nominate their favourite work by filling in one of the available cards or even by text message and the winner gets £1,000.

Joining Gill Hedley on the judging panel was Ann Bukantas, The Walker's curator of fine art, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, and artists Callum Innes and Gavin Turk.

Between them they had to sift through thousands of submissions to assemble a final exhibition and select not only a first prize winner, but also four other prize winners.

The making of the painting (tempera on paper), by Andrew Grassie. Awarded a special merit.

"It was quite a job to undertake," said Gill. "I would like to offer my thanks and warm congratulations to all the artists, not just the ones in this room."

Alongside Alexis Harding, the judges picked out work by Andrew Grassie – to whom they awarded a special merit – Dougal McKenzie, Sarah Pickstone and Alex Pollard, who each receive £2,500.

The John Moores 23 exhibition opens at The Walker Art Gallery on September 18 and continues until November 28.