Wildcard Artists wanted for Landscape Artist of the Year 2019

The entry for Wildcard Artists for Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2019 opened at 10am this morning. I found out from one of those who got an invite because she didn't make the cut for the 48 artists who will be in the pods - while watching the Final of the Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 at the National Portrait Gallery today!

Below you can find out more about

• where the Heats are located
• the dates of the Heats
• how to enter as a Wildcard Artist

Wildcards Artists for Landscape Artist of the Year 2019

You can't be a wildcard unless you can make it to one of the Heats. These are as follows

Herstmonceux, East Sussex

• Heat 1: 12th June 2019
• Heat 2: 13th June 2019

Herstmonceux is a village in the Weald in East Sussex.  It's a pretty safe bet that one of the two locations will be Herstmonceux Castle 2 miles (3.2 km) south-east of the village. It may be that this provides two locations - with a view of the Castle and Gardens and a view of the lake. See the website and the map of the gardens

Alternatively they may go for the The Observatory Science Centre which is close by and has some pretty odd shaped buildings

An aerial view of Herstmonceux Castle

Plymouth, Devon

• Heat 3: 19th June 2019
• Heat 4: 20th June 2019

My guess is potential sites are:

• Mount Edgecumbe - which is a designated film location with lots on site and views of the Tamar
• Plymouth Hoe - which has a lighthouse and another curious building
• Various docks and dockyards - including Devonport

Plymouth Hoe

Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

• Heat 5: 3rd July 2019
• Heat 6: 4th July 2019

I'm guessing here (well they're all total guesses!) but my bet is on:

• The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art - situated in the old Mills building - and Gateshead Waterfront
• Gateshead Millenium Bridge - which opens and tilts

Baltic Mills and the Bridge over the Tyne

Gateshead Millennium Bridge - when open and tilted

Invitation to be a Wildcard Artist

You have to click on your Preferred Heat to apply - and once 50 Wildcard Places have been given out that's it. Which is not to say you can't just turn up anyway - you just won't get the chance to be in the semi-final.

I'm getting "closed" on each of the Heats which may well mean all the places have gone. Alternatively they have a GLITCH!

On a first-come, first-served basis we will be offering 50 Wild Card places at each of our heats. By bringing your own easel and materials you could join us at one of our spectacular locations around the country and paint a landscape in front of the judges. If your painting impresses them you could win the opportunity to go through to the semi-final and move a step closer to winning a £10,000 commission.

 The Wildcard page includes

• a link to the Wildcard Terms and Conditions
• the answers to Frequently Asked Questions