HIGHLANDERS' artistic talents were celebrated last week.

The annual Matthew Jones Foundation art awards were held at Mt Ashby with several Highlands schools taking part.

It was the eighth year the awards have been held and primary school students from the Bowral Community of Schools entered the competition.

The awards raised funds for the Bowral Community of Schools including Tangara School.

All works on display were up for sale and a raffle was also held on the night with prizes for both students and schools donated by local businesses.

This year the theme of the awards was My Favourite Place.

The winning students collected $500 and a Samsung mini ipad for their schools with the runners up also receiving $500.

Highlands resident and award winning artist Danie Mellor was the guest judge. Director of the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery was the MC for the evening.

In 2009 the foundation was founded by Di and Bill Jones of Di Jones Real Estate in honour of their son Matthew was diagnosed with severe mental and physical disabilities at just nine months of age.

He passed away at 34 years of age. The Matthew Jones Foundation raises funds to support families of children who have a disability.

The foundation has raised more than $64,000 for special needs schools.

Bowral division

Category 1

Winner: Kipling Reay (Glenquarry)

Runner up: Eliza Shields (Kangaloon)

Category 2

Winner: Leavi Bell (Glenquarry)

Runner up: Nash Linsley (Colo Vale)

Category 3

Winner: Claudia Fisk (Kangaloon)

Runner up: Isabella Ibrahim (Hill Top)

Category 4

Winner: Lochlan Newman (Tangara)

Runner up: Jacob Weekes (Tangara)

Independent division

Category 1

Winner: Tane Eaton (Mittagong Public)

Runner up: Ella Davis (Glenquarry)

Category 2

Winner: Cassia Larke (Waverly Public)

Runner up: Finnian Lounsbury (Waverly Public)

Category 3

Winner: Kiana Parish (Waverly Public)

Runner up: Harper Pollard (Waverly Public)

Category 4

Winner: James Thornton (Tangara)

Runner up: Charlotte Tate (Tangara)