Sky Landscape Artist of the year 2018

I was lucky to be invited to compete against 50 other artists in the wildcard category for Sky Arts fantastic TV show Landscape Artist of the Year.  The recording took place at Viking Bay in Broadstairs, Kent… a beautiful quintessential English seaside village! If you haven’t seen the show you should look out for it as they have made a couple of series now. Also well worth watching the Portrait Artist of the Year too! Both amazing and inspiring.

Despite the UK being gripped with a heatwave this June we arrived at Broadstairs to find freezing cold, bleak Wintery conditions! The rough seas and grey skies made for excellent inspiration to paint however (after all who wants to see just a bright blue sky with no clouds in a painting?!). We were given 4 hours to paint our landscapes spread over 6 hours with breaks, filming, interviews etc.

I made sure I securely fixed my canvas and easel to my chair with rolls of masking tape to stop it blowing away. Some artists who chose more exposed locations on the pier got drenched by the high waves crashing over on them! Despite the shivering I got to work with the acrylics.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day and felt happy with the painting I was able to create in the time (and the freezing windy conditions!). I didn’t make it through to the next round but I was overwhelmed by the number of members of the public who told me my painting was their favourite. (perhaps they told everyone that eh?!). I’m really looking forward to watching the show when it airs in the Autumn on Sky Arts.