Russell Tovey to guest judge for South of England heat

Artists from the six heats in Sky Arts’ bold new series Landmark, produced by Primal Media (Jerk, Home Free), are revealed today. Hosted by Gemma Cairney, each episode will spotlight three artists who are competing against each other to create local landmarks for their home region. Landmark will air from Monday 6th September on Sky Arts (Freeview Channel 11) and streaming service NOW.

Working across mediums varying from ceramics and bronze to LEDs and inflatables, the artists will build, weld and sculpt under the watchful eyes of two expert judges: Clare Lilley, curator and Director of Programme at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and artist Hetain Patel; as well as the celebrity guest judge representing their region or nation.

Artists appearing in heat two:

South of England: Jack Wimperis, Alice Irwin and Favour Jonathan. Joined by celebrity guest judge Russel Tovey

• Activist artist Favour, light sculptor Jack and figurative artist Alice battle it out in the South of England heat with disciplines ranging from metalwork and computer programming to use of colour. This week’s artists tackle heavy workloads, technical difficulties and miscommunication as they create landmarks which question whether public art needs to have a meaning, or can be used solely to evoke joy

At the end of each heat, the landmarks will be unveiled to the local community, who will join the judges to deliberate on which piece best sums up their area. The winning artist will gain a coveted place in the final where they will pitch for a national landmark which one of them will be commissioned to create. The final landmark will be on display in Coventry, UK City of Culture for 2021.

To mark the launch of the series, research undertaken by Sky Arts into the UK’s favourite pieces of free-to-view outdoor artwork found three quarters of UK adults think famous outdoor artwork is a great way to put a place on the map. However, 59 per cent say there isn't enough free outdoor artwork within 10 miles of where they live.

Research specific to the South of England found:

• When asked whether it’s important that free outdoor art is provocative, those in the South of England proved the region who agreed with this statement most strongly, with nearly half (44%) looking for art that challenges

The new series delves into the purpose and power of public art and forms Sky Arts’ mission to create the UK’s next major landmark. Sky Arts will invest £700,000 in public art over the course of the series, with £250,000 dedicated to the final piece. This covers materials, artist fees and maintaining the regional and national landmarks for years to come.

Landmark will air on Sky Arts, Freeview Channel 11, and streaming service NOW from Monday 6th September 2021

Heat Two: South of England airs on Monday 13th September 2021

Information on additional heats can be found below:

North of England: TX Monday 6th September, 8pm

Artists: Sadie Clayton, Saad Qureshi, and Steve Anwar. Joined by celebrity guest judge Mark Radcliffe

• Artists Sadie, Saad and Steve battle it out in the North of England heat of Landmark. Will Sadie with her fashion background and expertise with copper create a sculpture to rival established artist Saad? Or will relative newcomer Steve’s deep-rooted connection to Sheffield win the day?

South of England: TX Monday 13th September, 8pm

Artists: Jack Wimperis, Alice Irwin and Favour Jonathan. Joined by celebrity guest judge Russel Tovey

• Activist artist Favour, light sculptor Jack and figurative artist Alice battle it out in the South of England heat with disciplines ranging from metalwork and computer programming to use of colour. This week’s artists tackle heavy workloads, technical difficulties and miscommunication as they create landmarks which question whether public art needs to have a meaning, or can be used solely to evoke joy

Midlands: TX Monday 20th September, 8pm

Artists: Luke Perry, Jason Wilsher-Mills and Alfie Bradley. Joined by celebrity guest judge Benjamin Zephaniah

• Metalwork sculptor Luke, disabled artist Jason and urban artist Alfie vie for victory in the Midlands. Luke pays homage to the people of the region, Jason creates a tribute to the people of Corby and Alfie is inspired by the studies of Charles Darwin. Manual labour goes up against technology as the artists explore the differing ways in which art can be produced today

Wales: TX Monday 27th September, 8pm

Artists: Nathan Wyburn, Candice Bees and John Merril. Joined by celebrity guest judge Charlotte Church

• Pop Culture artist Nathan, wire work specialist Candice and wood sculptor John face off in the Wales heat with works addressing themes such as national tragedy, animals in urban environments and sustainability in art. Nathan finds a new maturity in his subject matter, Candice pushes the limits of her intricate work and John takes on creativity at scale

Northern Ireland: TX Monday 4th October, 8pm

Artists: Ellie Niblock, Paddy Bloomer and Stephen Wilson. Joined by celebrity guest judge Michelle Fairley

• Multidisciplinary artist Ellie, artist inventor Paddy and photographer Stephen compete in the Northern Ireland heat. Inspired by industry, science, sustainability and heritage, each artist