Quick draw: Turner winner Jeremy Deller hands out ‘golden paintbrush’ prize in art competition

“More like a club night”: Art Battle III in action. Photograph: Carlotta Goulden

Kamio in Shoreditch played host to a live life drawing competition on Sunday 23 April, which combined performance, music and art for an engaging, fast paced and interactive evening.

Art Battle III combined a cultural experience with a setting that felt more like a club night, making for a unique evening. The third event of its kind, the nights are gaining popularity and fast becoming a must for both audience members and artists alike.

The atmosphere felt a world away from a traditional gallery opening – more accessible and energized. It was certainly refreshing to see an organisation providing a fun and interactive alternative to regular art events and this night – with music blaring and drinks flowing – made for an exciting change towards something unpretentious and inclusive.

Ten artists from a range of backgrounds had thirty minutes to create a piece of work, each from the same live models. The evening was split into two rounds, and after each, the audience were invited to vote for their favourite to make it through to the final round.

As the crowd circled the room, the movement and music felt more like a party than an art opening, and it was a rare treat to be able to watch the artists’ work progress from start to finish. Though technically a competition, the relaxed environment felt more like watching a collective producing work against the clock – encouraging a great sense of camaraderie among all the participants.

The whole thing felt like an installation or artistic happening in its own right – before adopting their poses, even the models treated the audience to a brief performance piece of their own.

Against the clock: an Art Battle participant at work. Photograph: Carlotta Goulden

The evening’s winner was Nikolai Kozin, whose bright and bold work seemed to perfectly capture the environment. His decision to incorporate flashes of neon in the background worked wonderfully under the UV lights in the space.

His prize, the coveted golden paint brush, was presented by Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller, best known for his large scale, socially engaged exhibitions and collaborations.

The participants were sourced through an open call via London Drawing, and this broad-mindedness led to a wide variety of styles on show. From a street art inspired interpretation to more classic charcoal life drawing, it was great to see such different work being made side-by-side.

It is encouraging to see an organisation creating a platform for artists from all walks of life to not only showcase their work, but be a part of a fun evening for everyone involved. Whether a seasoned fine artist or enthusiastic amateur, the evenings are a great opportunity to do something a little bit out of your comfort zone.

As an audience member, they are without a doubt more entertaining than most gallery visits – a great way of injecting a bit of high culture into a night out.

For information on future Art Battles visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/artbattlelondon