Put London on canvas to win £10,000 prize

THE Evening Standard is offering an artist a £10,000 chance to change their life. Our first ever Contemporary Art Prize, launched in association with Hiscox, is challenging the capital’s painters to capture London on canvas.

They will be given “London” as their brief and asked to submit a painting with the winning work, chosen from a shortlist, announced at an event at the National Gallery on October 26.

Among the judges is our arts editor William Moore and critic and broadcaster Matthew Collings, who said London was “a great subject”.

He said: “What can a painter make of it, and how can a judge pick out something special? The things to look out for are surprise and order, in a believable balance: pulsing life.”

The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over. The winner will get £10,000 cash, a year’s free Hiscox Fine Art Insurance and a lifetime National Art Pass.

Mr Moore said: “The Evening Stand- ard has always championed the London art scene, which is the most diverse and daring in the world. Our new competition further strengthens thi s paper’s commitment to the capital’s ever-growing creativity.

“At a time when affordable artists’ studios are harder and harder to find, our prize will help cultivate London’s talent.

“I hope the simple brief of ‘London’ will encourage the capital’s artists to match the high standards we expect from our city.”

To find out more and enter the London Evening Standard Contemporary Art Prize, go to standard.co.uk/artprize.