Press Releases

Simon Keenlyside has been named as the UK winner of the Lexmark European Art Prize 2004, Europe’s only pan-European painting prize.  Simon was presented with the £5000 award last night at the UK winner’s ceremony at London’s Air Gallery.

Simon, 29 and from Essex, is a full time artist and favourite of Mario Testino who owns some of his work.  He now joins ten other finalists from around Europe in the Final, held in Milan on 7th October, where the overall winner will collect a prize of 30,000 euros. 

Simon’s painting, ‘The End of a Beautiful Winter’, depicts a fantastic, synthetic landscape.  An avowed suburbanite, Simon’s painting harks back to his childhood spent wondering thorough the woodland in Benfleet and is inspired by nostalgic memories and local legends of ghosts.

The UK panel of judges included 2003’s overall winner and Saatchi favourite, Christian Ward, from London.

The European panel have now selected 10 finalists from over 4,000 entries across Europe.  The short-listed works feature paintings from Italy, Germany, Poland, France, Russia and the UK.

Meredith Etherington-Smith Chairman of Art Fortnight, and member of the judging panel is delighted that the prize is demonstrating a clear revival in painting: “If the last decade of the 20th Century was noted for developments in conceptual art, the first years of the 21st Century have seen a strong revival in the ancient art of painting.  It has been a challenge and a privilege to be involved in judging a prize that is solely dedicated to painting, and recognising emerging talent in this field.”

“The 2004 Prize has seen hundreds of entries drawn from around the UK, not just from professional artists but amateurs including a biology student, a spiritualist and a support worker for people with learning disabilities.  Said Giovanni Giusti, Managing Director, Lexmark UK.  “This is a great opportunity for emerging artists to be recognised. In a time when art takes on so many different mediums, it’s fantastic to be involved in a prize solely supporting painting and offering new opportunities to the artists of tomorrow.”

The announcement of the overall winner will be made on 7th October from Milan.

About the Lexmark European Art Prize
The Lexmark European Art Prize is the first ever painting prize to be launched on an annual pan-European basis.  The competition extends Lexmark’s significant investment in the arts which includes the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the French Réunion des Musées Nationaux and Lexmark’s Art Education Programme which introduced fine art to over 600 schools in the US.

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