The Great British Paint-Off: BBC1 searches for best amateur artists

The BBC is looking for the best of Britain's best amateur artists - with a passion for painting and drawing - for a competitive art series on BBC1 which I guess will be the art equivalent of the The Great British Bake-Off and The Great British Sewing Bee!

Let's guess - could this new competitive art series possibly be called The Great British Paint-Off?

BBC Arts & culture Page

I don't know who gets to stand in for Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood but it might be interesting to speculate as to who could fill those shoes - with expertise and cutting comment!

The BBC has had all sorts of success with different programmes involving amateurs competing in skills based series. I guess it's logical that this should be the next spin of the dice!

Painting programmes have enjoyed a great following on television - but haven't necessarily always been transmitted at the right time of day. Who can forget Watercolour Challenge?

So here's my summary of the call for artists.

Who can enter?

• amateur painters from all over the UK - definitely NOT professional artists
• people with "a passion for painting and drawing"
• over 16 years of age

This is their definition of "amateur artist" as per their terms and conditions - I've highlighted in bold the relevant bits for those earning income from their art.

The competition is not open to anyone who is currently a professional artist, or artists who have already won professionally recognised prizes or awards for their work.
4. To qualify as an amateur, individuals should not earn more than 50% of their annual income from their artworks, or be represented by an established gallery. The BBC's decision as to whether an entrant is amateur or professional is final.
5. Further, as this is a competition for amateurs, entrants must declare any connection with a commercial art associate or organisation when entering. Although this will not automatically exclude an entrant, the BBC will consider any conflict of interest and reserves the right to exclude an entry on that basis.

What do they want from you?

Artists must:

• like a creative challenge (think "technical bake" and "showstopper bake"!)
• be able to work in a variety of different figurative forms and media - from landscape, portraiture and still life, to watercolour, oil and charcoal.

This is what they have to sat

When selecting applicants for this programme the following will be taken into account: skill, enthusiasm, drive, love of painting and art, lively characters who are comfortable being filmed. Initial selection will be based on the application forms, submitted artworks and telephone interviews. In addition the Producers may (but may not) invite shortlisted applicants to attend an interview at their discretion. We will be looking for a mix of finalists to reflect the range in age, location, gender and diversity of amateur painters in Britain.

How to apply

Closing date for applications: Sunday 23 March, 2014.

Email the following to amateurartist@bbc.co.uk 

• your name, address, age, occupation, contact number
• a recent photo of yourself;
• up to three images that best represent the range of your work
• a short paragraph about why you paint.

or send the same by post to: Amateur Artist, MC5 A6, BBC Media Centre, Wood Lane, London, W12 7TQ. (Please DO NOT send originals as these cannot be returned)

You'll know whether or not you're the next Ruby or Brendan by Friday 3 April - because if you've not heard it means your application was unsuccessful.

Like any competition this is just the screening - and I guess the next stage tests out whether you can cope with being paint and talk while being filmed!

I guess this is the bit where I should get out my video player and show you me being filmed painting by the BBC about 25 years ago! That's if I can find the video!

Link: BBC One series: calling all amateur artists