Sky Arts: Landscape Artist of the Year 2026

Sky Arts: Landscape Artist of the Year 2026

I’ve always been a fan of Landscape Artist of the Year, but it wasn’t until earlier this year that I actually decided to do something about it, and properly apply.

The online forms were detailed and arduous, and once those were complete and uploaded, it wasn’t long before the production team behind the show gave me a call. I spoke to the Production Manager via Zoom, and was really pleased to find out I’d made the longlist for the shortlist. This years series, its 11th, was to have a different format, whereas in the past 70 artists were chosen, this year it was whittled down to 10 before the cameras even started rolling. The idea was simple. 10 artists begin and each week, someone is eliminated until there are 4 semifinalists left to battle it out as a winner.

By mid May, I’d found out that I hadn’t made the final 10, but I was chosen as a ‘Wildcard’ entry, which basically meant I could take part in the episode, alongside the chosen artists in the Official Artists Pods. I was sent a series of production dates, and chose Port Talbot in South Wales on July 2nd, hoping it would mean a great artistic location inside the steel works.

It wasn’t like that.

The location was a mystery until I arrived at the site by 7:30am in the morning. Leaving our cars in Port Talbot, the Wildcards were taken by bus to an overgrown builders yard near the docks. In all there were 18 wildcards, sat amongst the 6 final artists left in the competition.

The builders yard did indeed have a view towards the steel works, but it was hard to see above the weeds, and general builders rubble set around the site. I struggled at first to find a good view, and struggled to contain my worry / stress / excitement that this was the actual day, and I was actually taking part in the show.

We had 5 hours to complete our works of art, and having balanced on a pile of builders rubble I set about completing a painting / drawing of a glorious cement works across the water. As the drawing came together, I was interviewed by Fearne Cotton, a host on the show, who asked my opinions on the site, and my knowledge of Port Talbot having grown up fairly nearby in Bridgend. My first piece was completed, and I was ok with it, but knew I could do better. I started and attempted a second, this time with more charcoal, more grit and more soul… It felt better. It was dirty, it felt right for the location and I was happier with the outcome. Tai-Shan Schierenberg the main host for the show complimented my art which meant the world to me…

By the time the official judging had taken place, I was exhausted, sunburnt and covered in builders grit.

I won’t spoil the surprise of who was eliminated, you’ll have to wait until January 2027 when the show airs on Sky TV.

Hopefully I’ll be in the final edit and not left on the cutting room floor.