Landscape Artist of the Year

The start of the search for the nation's best landscape painter.

We've hit heat number three in this series of Landscape Artist of the Year, and we're heading to Bristol to capture one of the country's most iconic structures – the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Based on a design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the bridge was opened in 1864 - five years after Brunel's death. The bridge was completed as a monument to him and marks a turning point in the history of engineering. Seen by Bristolians as a celebration of original thinkers and independent spirit, what better inspiration for our latest batch of artists as they look to do Brunel's "first child" justice on canvas. 

In heat four we're heading into the capital to lay down St Pancras Basin on canvas. Originally built in 1869 by Midland Railway as a coal wharf, it is now home to the St Pancras Cruising Club, and an oasis of calm amid the noise and haste of the nearby rail station. Our painters will need all the calm they can get as they hope to impress our judges enough to continue in the competition.

Following in the footsteps of Paul Cézanne and his famous artworks of the Bibémus Quarry, this week's heat will see our artists head to Wales' Dinorwic quarry. Once the second largest slate quarry in Wales (and the world) the site is now home to the National Slate Museum and a major rock-climbing venue for those looking to test their grip. But which of this week's painters will hold on to their chance for the Cézanne-inspired commission?

In our final preliminary heat this series, Landscape Artist of the Year returns to Bristol as this week's artists capture Bristol Harbourside. Once one of the country's busiest docks, the waterfront is now a vibrant attraction filled with markets, restaurants, bars and water sport activities. Who can impress our judges enough to take the final space in this year's semi-finals?

It's the semi-finals of this year's competition, and our eight heat winners along with one wildcard entrant have the task of committing Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard to canvas. Home to the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, the dockyard is a living memory of Britain's naval past. With expectations high, which three artists will carve out a spot for themselves in next week's grand finale at Stonehenge?

We've reached the grand finale of this year's competition, where the last remaining challenge will take the top three artists to one of Britain's most iconic landmarks, Stonehenge, where they will vie for the title of Landscape Artist of the Year. The winner will receive a £10,000 commission for the prestigious Courtauld Gallery in London and the opportunity to create a landscape in the south of France. 

Our Winner's Film follows the successful candidate as they walk in the footsteps of Monet, Manet and Van Gogh, and eventually unveil their finished landscape back in London.