The search for Lancashire Artist of the Year 2023 begins now

A new competition that will showcase the most beautiful scenery in Lancashire by the best artists around is launching today.

The search has now begun to find the Lancashire Artist of the Year, whether that be the county’s best landscape artists or an unknown talent.

We want to see landscape paintings, sketches, collages, lino prints or even embroideries depicting your favourite Lancashire view in spring, summer, autumn or winter.

The finalists and the winner's artworks will be collated and printed in our first Lancashire Artist of the Year 2024 calendar, which will be sold across the county in libraries, museums and our archives.

Proceeds from the sale of the calendars will go towards activities to support Lancashire Care Leavers.

Artists have until June 19 to submit their entries.

Our judging panel will pick their favourites from each season and create a shortlist. The shortlisted artworks will then go forward to an online public vote.

The artwork with the most votes will become the overall winner, featuring on the calendar cover, with the artist who created it winning the title of Lancashire Artist of the Year 2023.

Preston artist Norman Long will be part of the judging panel who will be reviewing entries and is excited to see the art that will be produced by the people of Lancashire.

Norman said: "I am honoured to be invited as a selector for the new Lancashire Artist of the Year Award.

"The practice of painting our local environment is becoming increasingly popular, encouraged by social media and outdoor painting events such as those held in Longridge, Padiham, Blackburn and Clitheroe.

"Amongst the work submitted, I will be looking for a genuine engagement with the subject, something which is hard to achieve through taking a quick snap. Even taking the time to sketch on-site can connect you to a place more firmly, leading to a more personal interpretation."

County Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for cultural services at Lancashire County Council, said: "We are blessed in Lancashire with some of the most stunning scenery in the whole of the UK.

"With this competition, we want to shine a light on that while also celebrating the rich pool of artistic talent out there.

"We also want this competition to be inclusive and will welcome entries from people of all walks of life and abilities.

"We're excited to have an established local artist like Norman on board but ultimately it will be the public who have their final say and crown the Lancashire Artist of the Year 2023."

To find out more about the competition, and to read the full terms and conditions, go to lancashire.gov.uk/artistoftheyear