Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge: a marvel of engineering, a symbol of Bristol, and now, a canvas. Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year sets up shop in the shadow of this iconic structure, challenging artists to capture its grandeur (and maybe not fall into the Avon Gorge in the process).
This isn’t just another pretty picture competition. The Clifton Suspension Bridge, completed in 1864, embodies innovation and a certain stubborn Britishness – a testament to Brunel’s vision even after his death. Capturing that spirit, that tangible sense of history and defiance against gravity, is the real test.
For the artists, it’s a high-wire act of their own. How do you translate steel and stone into brushstrokes? How do you convey the bridge’s scale, its delicate strength, its place within the dramatic landscape? Will we see impressionistic swirls of mist, hyperrealistic depictions of every rivet, or something completely unexpected?
Tune in to witness the artistic interpretations, the inevitable judging critiques, and the breathtaking backdrop. Just maybe don’t watch if you’re afraid of heights.
Landscape Artist of the Year airs Wednesday, February 5, 2025 on Sky Arts.