Call for Entries: Series 12 of Portrait Artist of the Year (2025)

The competition to enter Series 12 of Portrait Artist of the Year in 2025 is now open. 

This is my guidance for you on what to expect

• This is a prestigious art competition - televised by Sky Arts
• It has a £10,000 commission as first prize (no such thing as inflation in this competition! Strictly speaking, if they were keeping up with inflation, the prize should now be worth £15,000)  
• the careers of some of the winners have been very productive and fruitful as a result of winning - but it's entirely up to you what you make of it and how you benefit as a result, even if you just participate in a heat
• The deadline for entries is NOON on Friday 7th February 2025 (the deadline has been extended in the past - but best not to assume this will happen)

This is A VERY LONG POST about:

• The nature of this art competition
• WHO can enter
• HOW to enter
• What the day of filming is like - and how long it lasts!
• Plus TIPS about this art competition
• AND TIPS about juried art exhibitions and art competitions generally (at the end).

About the competition

Quotations below are from the Terms and Conditions of the competition or as indicated.

This is an art competition as a television show.

The winner is awarded a commission - worth a TAXABLE fee of £10,000 - to create a portrait of a notable person for a (usually) prestigious organisation.

If you want to know why the prize money is taxable (which I think is a new word in the T&Cs) see my page on my website Art Business Info for Artists 

• about Tax on art awards and prize money 
• and/or Do artists have to pay tax on art prizes?

How it works - a summary

• Filming of Series 12 of Portrait Artist of the Year is planned to take place at (very probably) the Battersea Arts Centre in April 2025.
• In effect this is a 'reality' (i.e. real people/real artists) knock-out competition for portrait artists over eight heats
• Nine artists compete in each heat
• there are three "celebrity" sitters (some you will know/ some you won't! There's a good mix of age, sex, gender, ethnicity and background)
• each sitter has three artists drawing / painting / printing their portrait - in various 2D media
• you have just four hours to complete a portrait - unless you work through lunch which some do.

The Shortlisted Artists will have a maximum of 4 hours over a 5-6 hour period (or such other period as the Producer at its discretion may determine) to complete their Heat Artwork.

• The Sitter gets to choose a portrait - and if it's your portrait this is gifted to the sitter.
• The Heat Winner - from a shortlist of three - goes through to the semi-finals
• Eight heat winners get to compete at the Semi-Final
• Three people from the semi-finals are selected for the Final which involves:
• a commission completed between semi final and final
• four hours to complete the portrait of the celebrity sitter in the final

The dates and times that the Finalists shall be given to complete the first of the Final Artworks shall be determined by the Producer, and may be within a set time period on a single day or over a number of days, and the Producer may film any or all of this process. A space of the contributor’s choice must be provided free of charge by the contributor to film any or all of this process.

Sadly, the days of the Final being at the National Portrait Gallery seem to be over!

TIP You need to know about the conditions you work under on location!

Artist of the Year Masterclass: Week 2

Below you can find the details of all this week's classes in the brand new series of Artist of the year: Masterclass. It's the same tutors as last week - but different topics this week.

Week 2 of Artist of the Year: Masterclass

As before the the programmes are

• on Sky Arts every evening this week
• the first programme starts at 6pm and lasts 30 minutes
• the second programme starts at 6.30pm
• so basically an hour of tuition covering two topics every evening.

So far as I am aware, these classes are only currently accessible to those living in the UK via Sky Arts (on Freeview). You can also watch on catchup if you subscribe to either Sky or Now TV.

If you follow the Artist of the Year Facebook page or Instagram account you'll get a reminder about each programme - which will include a list of the materials being used.

Here's the Facebook post for the two programmes this evening. (Sorry I've had to replace the Instagram video one - as the video just appeared as a great big blank space on my blog!!)

How did you find the new series of Artist of the Year: Masterclass last week?

It's certainly not a definition of masterclass that I'm familiar with. The artists are dealing with basics of the sort usually taught to beginners or improvers.

Speaking personally, I also found it difficult to set aside the hour each evening to watch "live". However, since I subscribe to NOW TV I was able to access the programmes already broadcast on catch-up. My preference would be to see two back to back programmes each week on one set day - over a period of weeks.

I also found that it was very easy to tell which are artists are experienced at teaching at this level - because it was very clear that they

• prepared their lesson well in advance 
• delivered the instruction in a very structured way
• didn't drop art terms into what they said without explaining what the term means
• had very clear instructions as to what materials are required
• knew how best to teach online
• did a good demonstration

Not all tutors were experienced and competent at teaching at this level.

Postscript: 

It did occur to me that maybe this skills development series is being done with the aim of improving the skills levels of painters applying for and getting selected for the two series of Portrait Artist of the Year and Landscape Artist of the Year.

What do you think?

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Review: Semi Finals of Portrait Artist of the Year 2024

This is all about the semi-finals of Portrait Artist of the Year 2024 (Series 11) which was broadcast on Wednesday night. 

It covers various observations about the Semi-Final (the reality and the programme) including:

• The Semi Finalists (Heat winners)
• The Heat Portraits
• The Sitter setup and setting
• Themes of the semi-final
• Judging and Finalists
• Sitters for the Final
  

(PS Did anybody notice the "not deliberate" mistake?)

I've been to semi-finals at the Battersea Arts Centre twice and the way they change it for the semi-finals makes you wonder how on earth the artists will be able to cope. The segment structure is gone and there is a very imposing set surrounded by eight easels!

The Semi Finalists (Heat Winners)

The Semi Finals of Portrait Artist of the Year 2024 is about to start....

"A lot of very ambitious painters" 

The semi finals include 8 heat winners - who are six women and 2 men! 

 The Heat Portraits

Just think about it from the semi finalists perspective. They've met the other semi-finalists but have absolutely no idea about the competition and how competent they are until they enter that big hall at Battersea Arts Centre and see the other Heat Portraits hanging next to their heat portrait. I'm guessing that might generate a few butterflies in the tummy

 

The wall of Heat Portraits

I highlighted the semi-finalists in my post on Wednesday The Semi Finalists - Portrait Artist of the Year 2024 and - as there is no wildcard additional artist this year (which has happened in the past), I'm going to leave it at that.

The Artists in the PAOTY Semi Final 2024
Note the different size of the supports they are working on.
Moving up to the semi-finals means moving up in size for most.

They are - in Episode order:

• Episode 1 - Paul Lee (Instagram) - review of Episode 1
• Episode 2 - Polly Pincott (Instagram) - review of Episode 2
• Episode 3 - Brogan Bertie (Instagram) - review of Episode 3
• Episode 4 - Jennifer Anderson (Instagram) - review of Episode 4
• Episode 5 - Jenna Waldren (Instagram) - review of Episode 5
• Episode 6 - August Lamm (Instagram) - Review of Episode 6
• Episode 7 - Rosie Phillips (Instagram) - Review of Episode 7
• Episode 8 - Kirstin Mackinnon - Review of episode 8 

To be frank, for me there were only four serious contenders and a maybe.

Before it started - and while writing my previous post I decided that the two I was absolutely certain would get to the Final were Jennifer and Paul (i.e. VERY experienced, fabulous eye for a person/painting, get on and paint people) - and after that there were two or three who could produce a good portrait on the day.

Plus it includes my commentary on what happened in the Semi Final. Just to note that it's my practice to never comment on those who do appalling paintings in the heat - but only reference themes which emerged during the programme.

 
HOWEVER as we get to the final stages of a very public art competition for a big money prize, I tend to become a tad more explicit in my commentary on how artists did - albeit I lean towards describing what happened as opposed to naming the artist. 

Bottom line the feedback / critique becomes more direct the closer you get to the prize. My philosophy is if you don't want people to comment, then you really think need to think very long and hard before entering art competitions with big money prizes.

The Setting and the Sitter

The Semi Finalists - Artist of the Year 2024

Just a quick reminder (I know I need one!) of who got through to the semi finals and what they've painted so far.

YOUR CHALLENGE - should you accept it - is to predict the three chosen to progress to the Final after reviewing their self portrait and heat portrait only.....

The images are of the portrait paintings by the artist to date.

The Semi Finalists

I've just noticed, all the semi-finalists are women but for two! So there's going to be at least one woman in the Final and there's a chance it might be all three!

Paul Lee (Instagram) - review of Episode 1

He is a visual effects animator who lives in Tunbridge Wells. He graduated with honours from Birmingham where he studied fine art (1989-91), specialising in painting, at between the years 1989-1991. Since 1994, he has worked as a character and VFX animator in the feature film industry. He returned to oil painting in 2022 and his instagram account clearly demonstrates that he is very capable of capturing both a likeness and expressions and loves to use colour - which he does very well. He has also exhibited at the annual exhibitions at the Mall Galleries (NEAC 2023, Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2024)

self portrait and heat portrait by Paul Lee

Polly Pincott (Instagram) - review of Episode 2

A full time professional artist based in Oxfordshire. She is a member of the Oxford Art Society and was a shortlisted artist selected to exhibit at the British Art Prize 2023. She made a point of practising in advance.  She was very surprised when she won - but shouldn't have been.

Self Portrait and Heat Portrait by Polly Pincott

Brogan Bertie (Instagram) - review of Episode 3

He was born in 1995 in South London and is now a painter and leatherworker based in Margate. In 2019, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in Illustration and Visual Media from London College of Communication. He worked in freelance illustration and animation until moving to Margate and training in leatherwork with Cope Studio.His self portrait took him 5 hours - but he's practiced painting a portrait within 4 hours before the heat

NEW: Artist of the Year Masterclass

 In a few minutes, at 6pm, a new art series on Sky Arts (Channel 36 on Freeview).

Further to my previous post Artist of the Year: Masterclass launches 2nd December. I now have more details as to how this is working.

It starts at 6pm and each programme lasts half an hour - however a second programme starts at 6.30pm EVERY evening.

The artists and topics are as follows - up until 9th December which is as far as my guide goes...

Review: Episode 8 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2024

This is my review of the final heat of Portrait Artist of the Year 2024 - or as Neil Watson (see end) calls it my forensic review of the show".

The artists in Episode 8 with Stephen Mangan

Next week is the semi-final and on Wednesday I'll be posting a review of all the semi-finalists as a memory jogger because I'm struggling right now to remember who got in....

Episode 8: The Sitters

As usual we have a mix of backgrounds when it comes to sitters.

• Rebecca Taylor/Self-Esteem (Musician) - Rebecca Lucy Taylor is also known by her stage name Self Esteem. She is a British musician, songwriter and actress.
• Dr Karan Rajan (Public Health Advocate) - an NHS surgeon and one of the biggest health and science creators on social media
• Emma Thynn (Marchioness of Bath) - her claim to fame is she is the first black Marchioness in British History. Regularly seen on various reality shows.

I rather liked Rebecca's special object - which was the charatcer she came dressed as - with a sideswipe on her lipsticked mouth.

Episode 8: The Artists

Episode 8 artists sat on the steps at Battersea Arts Centre

All the artists are listed below alphabetically by surname - but are not differentiated between professional and amateur.

Given Sky Arts has given up on providing links to their website and social media sites, this blog is now the ONLY site where you can find them! The link to their main 'contact' site is embedded in their name and social media sites follow - if available.

• Katie Gall (Instagram) - an IT specialist from Berkshire. This is her self portrait
• Neil Hamilton - Neil-Jack Alphonsus Hamilton is an Irish artist based in Donegal. He was born in County Down and comes from a family of artists. He graduated in Fine Art from the University of Ulster, Belfast in 2014 and has exhibited his work in numerous local and international shows. He previously competed in Portrait Artist of the Year in 2022. He works on commissions and as a life drawing tutor.
• Kirstin Mackinnon - an optometrist from Glasgow. She's previously been longlisted for portrait awards.
• Asa Medhurst (Instagram)- a creative agency owner and a contemporary figurative artist from South London working in oils and charcoal. He likes to blur the boundary between the real and the imaginary. He graduated from the Kent Institute of Art & Design in 1995 and has since gone on to study at The Royal Drawing School, Art academy and London Fine Arts. He's previously exhibited in the annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. His portrait below is based on the photo he took in the heat and is rather better than the one he produced at the time - see explanation in text.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Asa Medhurst (@asa.medhurst)

• Gaby Moxy (Instagram) - a professional artist from East Chinnock in Somerset who paints portraits and also has a decorative arts business.
• Brianna Lois Parker (Instagram) - a Caribbean-British professional oil painter  from South East London who graduated with a first class degree in Fine Art in 2021. Her work encapsulates everyday experiences and is strongly Black and British and she has a personal relationship with the subjects of her artwork. I liked her portraits on Instagram. I'm somewhat surprised not to hear that she was the first winner of the Margate Art Prize, selected by Tracy Emin
• Ed Simkins - a graphic designer This is his selfportrait. He studied at Chelsea School of Art at Foundation level but the need for a career took him into Graphic Design and Publishing. 30 years later he now makes art his priority and works across various media.
• Bran Sivakumar (Instagram) - He has two careers. He's a Children's Hand, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital and is also a contemporary British artist who works mostly in oils focusing on studies of still life, portraiture and the human figure. He has a painting in the current annual exhibition by the ROI at the Mall Galleries so I may well have seen him at the Private View yesterday without realising it!

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A post shared by Bran (@bransivas)

• Cristina Vercesi (Instagram) - Originally from Pavia in Italy and now based in London. In her late 30s, in 2017,  she enroled to study at the London Fine Art Studios.where she is now a tutor

The Self Portraits

Judges reviewing the self portraits by artists participating in Episode 8

As you can see this is how the analysis of self portraits worked. Rather fewer smaller self portraits than in some heats and rather more medium/large submissions. Many fewer "just a head".

FORMAT -  two thirds plumped for the portrait format and three went with another way of looking at portraits

• Portrait format x 6
• Landscape x 2
• Square x 0
• Tondo x 1

SIZE - no extremes of size and most avoided smaller sizes 

• Very Large x 0
• Large x 0
• Large/Medium x 4
• Medium x 3
• Small x 2
• Tiny x 0

SCOPE 

• full size or most of body (including hand) x 0
• head, shoulder and hand(s) x 4
• head and upper torso (no hands) x 2
• head and shoulders x 2
• head x 1

Note my comments about content of self portraits below.

Themes

Do you now NEED to demonstrate you can do a full length portrait?

Artist of the Year: Masterclass launches 2nd December

Sky Arts have come up with a brand new idea - Artist of the Year: Masterclass for all those aspiring artists out there. This post provides you with ALL THE DETAILS of what's on offer:

• which artists are involved
• what they are teaching

I've got a few problems with the words they use which are clear evidence of marketing over accuracy. That said, it's probably going to be a very popular series. Just a pity they gave it the wrong name....

The NEW Concept: Artist of the Year: Masterclass 

Tai Shan Shierenberg will be giving masterclasses along with other artists

Each masterclass will focus on a different subject or technique to help audiences understand the basics of painting and drawing, with classes covering everything from exploring tone and Alla Prima painting to composing a landscape, botanical flowers and even animal portraiture.

• Target audience: budding artists at home
• Methodology: 
• live tutorials from a variety of talented artists who have previously participated in either PAOTY or LAOTY
• demonstrations of "easy-to-learn techniques to budding artists at home"

The odd thing is I wouldn't ever describe this as a "Masterclass"

A Masterclass in my eyes is something 

• established artists may take to raise their game - the artist who has got beyond beginner but wants to progress to Intermediate or Advanced Levels.
• by learning about the things that acknowledged experts do which makes their artwork that much better.

Whereas the description is coming across to me as if it's about taking people who would like to be artists to a rather advanced level in one fell swoop. Which is:

• very ambitious 
• absolutely impossible!

Next time they maybe need to be properly innovative and get away from marketing people who haven't got a clue and conventional ideas about marketing and pandering to the novice and actually do something useful - such as directing their attention to creating people who will do well in PAOTY or LAOTY e.g. teach them about the pitfalls - and how to overcome them!

Jury is out for me at the moment. I am easily impressed by solid and good quality instruction - and I know that many of those who are delivering tutorials are very experienced teachers. Equally - and sadly - I know that not all are....

So below I'm going to highlight those who are delivering classes on a face to face basis.

The Artists delivering Masterclasses

The artists are mostly those who did well in PAOTY or LAOTY or are otherwise wellknown and well liked!

Links embedded in their name are to their website. Plus I've included links to Instagram where possible.

I'm commenting on what they have achieved as an artist and also whether or not they appear to be a regular teacher/instructor via classes or books.

Past winners of Portrait Artist of the Year

Digitising your art for posterity

When I was still making art, I used to be absolutely fastidious about recording its creation digitally - as it progressed and then again at the end and then saving it in different file formats. 

As I got more experienced, I started looking more into the "how to get a good image" and "how to photograph your art"

I was rather overwhelmed by the fact that, back in the 1990s, the first time I engaged a photographer to photograph my art, I ended up in her studio with black cloth everywhere, the lights off and her hand holding one of those clicker things which takes the picture. They were jolly good images! Pity we weren't doing digital then....

Many artists are now very interested in making sure they get good quality images of their artwork either through digital scanning or via digital photography - primarily so they can reproduce their art in different ways for ancillary sales.

Subsequently, I got very interested in collecting information about how to photograph your own art and everything I found at the time ended up on this page How to Photograph Art - for Artists on my Art Business Info for Artists website.   

Which is how I ended up with Case Studies like this......

Many thanks toYanny Petters for the action shot of her husband 
photographing her art outside on a bright but overcast day with no shadows

I'm now a member of the Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society. The Society is currently involved in digitising its archive of botanical illustrations of the plants growing in the Chelsea Physic Garden.

This is the latest post on the CPGFS Instagram Account of the activities of the British Museum imaging department who have been engaged to digitise the @cpgflorilegiumsociety Archive Collection.  

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Review: Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2024

PAOTY Episode 7: lined up for shortlisting

This week we reached the penultimate heat, had artists eager to show us all - from boobs to two views of a self portrait. Plus Kate sprained her ankle, missed the filming of the review of the self portraits at the beginning and was on crutches throughout. So there was lots of sitting down.... 

 As usual, this review follows the same format as all the previous ones in Series 11 (listed - with ALL REVIEWS FROM PAST SERIES - at the bottom)

Episode 7: Sitters

The three sitters in this penultimate heat were:

• Martha Kearney (Presenter) - a well known journalist and radio broadcaster used to the main presenter of BBC4's "The World at One" for 11 years and then the Today Programme. She stood down from broadcasting the news after the last General Election this summer - but continues to do nature programming." She brought an ancient way to keep bees.
• Kevin McCloud - (Designer / TV Presenter) - the presenter of Channel 4's Grand Designs - since 1999 - much loved by all those aspiring to live in nicer houses but terrified of the building costs! We've all watched his hair disappear - but I want to know how can he be 4+ years younger than me? He brought a much loved axe - which the risk assessment people determined had to be strapped to a board to make it on set!
• Heather Mills (Activist) - a former model and animal rights activist who is most famous for being the ex-wife of Sir Paul McCartnery and throwing a jug of water over his solicitor in the High Court. It turns out that she has a new occupation - winning medals for winter sports. She brought her prosthetic ski racing leg!

Episode 7: Artists

The artists sat on the steps of Battersea Arts Centre where the heats are filmed

 

All the artists are listed below alphabetically by surname - but are not differentiated between professional an amateur. I do this because the artists get no recognition in the end credits of each programme - despite the fact the programmes would not exist without them!

Given Sky Arts has given up on providing links to their website and social media sites, this blog is now the ONLY site where you can find them! The link to their main 'contact' site is embedded in their name and social media sites follow - if available. NOTE for Artist of the Year

Given the absence of posts on Instagram for this episode when I started writing yesterday (did somebody get bored/forget?) this is from a comment I made on my Facebook Page

If you're going to do social media marketing for a series you have to:

1. do it regularly - for every programme
2. do it consistently
3. add in extras (we like these) - BUT don't remove essentials (introducing the artists) and improvements!

This list took a lot longer this week as I checked subtitles....

• Kitty Bellamy (Instagram) - a mother, self-directed artist and part-time French Polisher living in York - who had some good news three weeks ago about where her self portrait will be exhibited next - at the upcoming Annual Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters at the Mall Galleries - opening next week. Clearly the selectors for the ROI know quality when they see it!

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A post shared by Kitty Bellamy (@kittybellamyart)

.

• Jack Hewitt (Instagram) - a self-taught oil painter based in East London, primarily focused on figurative and portrait painting. He also works as a part-time supervisor at a music venue. He's also exhibited with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and NEAC.
• Sophia Kaur Hambleton-Grey (Instagram) She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2019-2022 from the Ruskin School of Art / Magdalen College, University of Oxford (so one of the "lockdown" graduates). Currently studying for a Masters of Fine Arts at Goldsmiths University and volunteering as a WiSER Peer Project Mentor.Kiana Manu (Instagram) is a London-based advertising student (at the time) who graduated with a first class degree this summer.
• Paul Martin (Instagram) - a retired creative director from Pembrokeshire. Paul graduated from Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts in 1984 with a BA(hons) Degree in Art & Design. He had a 25 year career as a visualiser, storyboard artist and graphic designer, eventually forming his own design agency in London. He retired from design in 2007 and returned to his roots as a painter in Pembrokeshire. He has a studio situated on the foothills of the Preseli hills. This is his self portrait.
• Donna McGlynn (Instagram) - a painter and printmaker who is based in Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland. She is a Gray's School of Art Aberdeen alumni and taught art and design for a number of years. She won the prestigious £5,000 Sutherland Independent Scottish Portrait Award in Fife Art 2023

I'm on this series. I'll be watching through my fingers as although it seemed like a good idea to apply after a couple of glasses of wine, I was a bit taken aback and regret-y when I got selected. Anyhoo - the folks who make this show are A DELIGHT and I loved them. They made all of us feel very special. I understand why participants return - we're treated so well. Donna McGlynn

• Rosie Phillips (Instagram) - an art technician from North Norfolk.She participated in the 2022 series when she painted Big Zuu and was shortlisted. She completed her A Levels in 2019 and started her professional career as an artist. She likes expressionistic figurative paintings, and has an interest in storytelling and depicting moments and experiences from my life. In 2023, she participated in Royal Society of British Artists’ Bicentennial Exhibition (March), Affordable Art Fair Hampstead and The Jackson’s Painting Prize exhibition at Bankside Gallery
• Neil Rogers ASGFA (Instagram) - He has been painting for over 30 years and runs regular art classes and workshops in his studio in the village of Alrewas In Staffordshire. He lives in Burton upon Trent. This was his self portrait
• Fletcher Sibthorp (Instagram) - who lives in London. He's been painting on commission for over 30 years. His work has appeared in museums, offices album covers, theatre posters, company reports and even tattoos.

Recently, I participated in Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2024, a rewarding experience that challenged me to create a portrait in just four hours. No mean feat, considering you’re surrounded and bombarded by a TV crew, an audience and interviewed constantly. There’s no room for error… or paint drying! Fletcher Sibthorp

The Self Portraits

ING Discerning Eye 2024 Exhibition

The ING Discerning Eye 2024 Exhibition is currently on at the Mall Galleries in London and I visited last Friday. 

Unlike other exhibitions, five days later there's nothing much which comes to mind when trying to recall it - apart from a few pieces which were standout ones for me. That's essentially because it is overloaded with small artworks but maybe something else as well.....

paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture in the ING Discerning Eye 2024

The exhibition is unique because of the way it is put together.

Six people - two artists, two critics and two art collectors - pick what they like best from the open entry and also get to exhibit artwork by artists they like. 

The selectors this year are listed below - together with some views of their individual exhibits

You can also see the exhibition online - by selector. I'm putting the link underneath each pic of their exhibit below

Artists

• Adebanji Alade - current President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters; he also features regularly on the BBC’s The One Show
• Nina Murdoch - She trained at the Slade School of Fine Art (1989-93) and at the Royal Academy Schools (1993-96), and was the winner of the inaugural Threadneedle Prize (2008).

part of the exhibit by Adebanji Alade (134 artworks)
https://ingdeexhibition.org/gallery/adebanji-alade/

part of the exhibit by Nina Murdoch (105 artworks)
https://ingdeexhibition.org/gallery/nina-murdoch/
(who had the most difficult and fragmented space - next to the cafe)

Critics

• Paul Carey-Kent - he has weekly column for FAD art news, does monthly interviews for Artlyst and freelances for various art news publications. This is his blog post about the exhibition and his chosen artworks
  
• Will Gompertz - an English journalist, author and art critic. He was the BBC's arts editor before becoming he Barbican Centre's Artistic Director in June 2021 and the director of the Sir John Soane’s Museum in 2024.

part of the exhibit by Paul Carey-Kent (119 artworks) in the North Gallery
https://ingdeexhibition.org/gallery/paul-carey-kent/

part of the exhibit by Will Gompertz (107 artworks) at the end of the West Gallery
https://ingdeexhibition.org/gallery/will-gompertz/

Collectors

• Carol Leonard - has been dubbed the ‘doyenne of boardroom head-hunters’ by the Financial Times.
• Gabrielle Blackman - one of the country's leading interior designers.

two walls of the exhibit by Carol Leonard (115 artworks) in the East Gallery
https://ingdeexhibition.org/gallery/carol-leonard/

part of the exhibit by Gabrielle Blackman (124 artworks)
https://ingdeexhibition.org/gallery/gabrielle-blackman/

What seemed very weird to me this year is that I found it quite difficult to distinguish between the individual selectors - with the exception of Will Gometz and Paul Carey-Kent - who happen to be the art critics - who both produced quite distinctive "looks" to their two exhibitions. 

Who knew it would be the art critics who would present me with the best visual experience?

Lessons from this Exhibition 

The thing about this exhibition, which is its unique distinction - a wealth of small artwork - is also what makes it very difficult to view on occasion.

I usually come out feeling as if I've just had a visual overload.  But there's overload and then there's indigestion.