This week, in the final heat of Landscape Artist of the Year 2023, we finally got a PROPER landscape!
Absolutely no entertainment centres - whether on a pier, a pleasure beach or a racecourse - and no country houses either!
Instead we had lot of natural greens, greys and ochre colours - in the water, shoreline, grass, hills, grass and lots of trees. It was a pleasure to watch despite what was a very grey day at Strangford Lough, County Down in Northern Ireland.
It is however linked to that other entertainment vehicle - Games of Thrones - as being within the area of Winterfell
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| Pods at Strangford Lough, County Down |
As always, my review covers:
- the location and weather
- the artists' profiles
- themes arising during the episode
- who was shortlisted and who won
Episode 6: Strangford Lough
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| On a spit surrounded by water - which was receding as the wide went out |
Location
The pods were located on a spit jutting out of Strangford Lough - next to Strangford Sailing Club - in the area knows as Winterfell in Games of Thrones - nearer to the sea than most of the rest of the lough.
The pods were looking across the water to Audley's Castle built in 15th Century which overlooks the entrance to the sea lough from the sea.
One aspect which complicated matters for those that didn't know or notice is that Strangford Lough is a sea lough and consequently is tidal - and the tide went out - revealing a lot more foreshore over the course of the filming.
Weather
The day of the heat was grey with flat light - but it stayed consistent all day with slight variations in the sky.
It appears to have been the sort of day which works well for those accustomed to working with light and looking for the colour which exists even on a grey day. Which is what happened and it was a pleasure to watch......
The Artists in the Pods
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Artists in Episode. 6
(L to R back row: Andrew, David, Laura, Helen, Beth;
L to R Foreground: Elliot, Lewis and Chi Yen)
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- Links to their websites are embedded in their names.
- Social media platforms are also referenced.
The info in my profiles comes partly from the programme but also from their websites. How much depends very largely on much bio info is online!
The pod artists in this episode were:
- Laura Gill [Facebook] - A retired interior designer who lives in Dunblane, Scotland.
- Lewis Graham [Instagram] - Born in Birmingham and currently an art student living in Worcester. Graham explores the rural landscape and depicts it through large-scale charcoal drawings, painting and printmaking.
- David Hamilton [Instagram | Twitter] - a retired art director for an international company that produces themed sets for the entertainment industry and occasional TV extra from Portadown in Northern Ireland. "very chuffed to have exhibited with the RA, RUA, RHA, NGI and the AR." He has also been selected for the RA Summer Exhibition, London, 2016 and shortlisted twice for the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery
- Beth Horner [Linktr.ee | Instagram] - graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Painting in 2020, having received a BA in Painting from Wimbledon College of Art in 2017. Currently a Digswell Arts Fellow and works from her studio in Letchworth Garden City.
- Helen Lloyd Elliot [Instagram] - live and work in Dorset and London. Primarily a landscape and portrait painter - and a nature lover. Has exhibited at leading open art exhibitions in England. She's made a print of the painting she completed in the heat. Tai described her as a colourist and I agree.
- Andrew Mart [Instagram] - a musician and teacher from Nottingham
- Elliot Roworth [Facebook | Instagram] - a former architectural designer from Brighton. He's inspired by architecture and intrigued and energized by light effects and reflections. He's one of a few artists in this series whose paintings on his website have impressed me.
- Chi Yen Snow [Facebook | Instagram] - Relocated to Clevedon, near Bristol from London in 2017. Mother to two young girls. Graduated with a degree in film and animation. Spent over 15 years working as a graphic designer. Works in acrylic and oils and started working in pen and ink during lockdown. Participated in a pod in Episode 2 of Landscape Artist of the Year 2019 at Herstmonceux Observatory
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The Artists Pods at Strangford Lough
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Wildcard artists
As always, there were 50 Wildcard Artists painting in the same area
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| The Wildcards painting on the edge of the lough |
We heard in this episode that
Judges can be drawn towards your wildcard painting by the aesthetics of your set-up!
The general consensus was that there were some exceptionally strong Wildcard artists and that the Wildcards had a very good day.
Maybe because they'd been given a proper landscape at last?
Submissions
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seven of the eight pod artists with their submissions
(David Hamilton is missing) |
It's taken until the last heat to see the wall of submissions properly - albeit only 7 of the 8 artworks.
Interestingly the really big one is by David, the only artist from Northern Ireland. Most are on the small side
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| Submissions from the Pod Artists are considered at the outset |
At the beginning of the programme, after having seen the submissions I always write down for myself who I think will be shortlisted just on the basis of the submissions - and got two right - and wasn't sure who I'd make my third artist.
Themes, Learning Points and Tips
What follows are themes talked about or observed during the day and what we can learn from them and tips with how to deal with various challenges
