Landscape Artist Of The Year 2025 Winner’s Film: Ben McGregor – From Competition Winner to Courtauld Commission
In the heart of London’s Somerset House, a momentous occasion unfolds as Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year winner Ben McGregor unveils his commissioned work for the prestigious Courtauld Gallery. This remarkable journey began when Ben, competing against 47 other talented artists, captured the judges’ imagination with his distinctive artistic vision and secured the coveted £10,000 commission prize.
Ben’s story is particularly compelling because art wasn’t always his primary focus. After years working in bespoke furniture, he returned to painting in his mid-30s during a period of depression. “Art became my absolute solace in life,” he explains, his voice resonating with emotion. “It was born out of a desire to do something healing.” This personal connection to his craft would prove crucial as he embarked on his commission journey.
The challenge presented by Courtauld curator Barnaby Wright was both daunting and exhilarating. Ben was tasked with creating a contemporary response to three extraordinary paintings from the Courtauld’s collection – landscapes by Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Monet – all created in the South of France. When shown where his work would hang, alongside these masters, Ben was visibly moved. “I’m absolutely lost for words,” he admitted, his voice breaking slightly. “It’s a dream come true and such an honor.”
Traveling to the South of France, Ben’s first stop was Antibes on the Côte d’Azur, where Claude Monet had painted the Courtauld’s famous view across the bay. Local art historian Elodie Maire explained how the region’s dazzling light and rich colors transformed Monet’s palette, introducing brighter pinks and blues that would define his later work. Ben set up his easel at the exact spot where Monet had painted, absorbing the expansive landscape with its dramatic rocks, sweeping pine trees, and the intense Mediterranean blue.
Moving inland to Aix-en-Provence, Ben explored the rugged countryside dominated by Montagne Sainte-Victoire, the iconic limestone ridge that captivated Paul Cézanne throughout his lifetime. To understand Cézanne’s approach more deeply, Ben ventured up the slopes with local geologist Jerome Seguard, who revealed how the artist’s friendship with a geologist informed his understanding of the mountain’s structure and colors.
In a profound moment of connection, Ben was granted rare access to Cézanne’s studio and personal artifacts, including his painting palette still bearing the original paint. “It was amazing to see these authentic Cézanne artifacts,” Ben reflected. “It helped me get closer to Cézanne as an artist and a human being.”
The final leg of Ben’s journey took him to Arles, where Vincent van Gogh sought solace and inspiration away from the pressures of Paris. In an olive grove reminiscent of van Gogh’s subjects, Ben created another study, noting, “I can really relate to van Gogh in that sense,” referencing their shared experience of finding healing through nature and art.
Returning from France filled with inspiration yet unsure about his final direction, Ben eventually decided to create a view from Cézanne’s studio, incorporating elements from his travels. “Tackling the mountain at one stage felt almost impossible,” he reflected, “but placing it within Cézanne’s studio, which is a very human place, gave me the ability to see it in my own way.”
Landscape Artist Of The Year 2025 Winner’s Film
The unveiling at the Courtauld Gallery was an emotional culmination of Ben’s artistic journey. As the red drape fell away, revealing his creation to distinguished guests and judges, the response was overwhelmingly positive. “What an extraordinary picture,” exclaimed Barnaby Wright. Judge Kate Bryan observed, “Your palette is very English, and to adapt it in such a way that we can feel the heat coming off it is fantastic.”
Most importantly, Ben had succeeded in creating something authentically his own while honoring the masters who inspired him. As Wright noted, “Ben has stayed true to his authentic way of painting, but somehow by osmosis, he’s managed to absorb just enough influence from these artists to create a work that will sit on these walls confidently.”
For Ben, this experience represents not just a professional triumph but a personal transformation. “In terms of my artistic career, it’s been the most significant thing that’s happened,” he reflected, visibly moved. “It’s been such a wonderful journey, so full of incredible moments that I’ll remember and cherish for the rest of my life.”
Legacy of Light and Landscape
As Ben McGregor’s painting finds its permanent home among the masterpieces of the Courtauld Gallery, his journey offers a profound reminder of art’s transformative power. What began as a competition has blossomed into something far more significant—a testament to personal resilience and artistic growth. Indeed, Ben’s evolution from furniture maker to featured artist alongside Van Gogh, Monet, and Cézanne represents an extraordinary arc of creative rebirth.
The South of France, with its shimmering light and rugged beauty, has once again worked its magic on an artist’s soul. Furthermore, Ben’s experience mirrors that of the masters who preceded him; he too found inspiration in the dancing olive groves, the imposing presence of Montagne Sainte-Victoire, and the dazzling azure of the Mediterranean. However, unlike his predecessors, Ben carried the additional weight of their legacies as he worked.
Perhaps most remarkably, Ben accomplished what seemed impossible at first—creating something authentically his own while honoring the giants on whose shoulders he stood. His painting, with its distinctive brushwork and emotional resonance, doesn’t merely imitate the masters but engages in thoughtful dialogue with them across time. Consequently, visitors to the Courtauld will now experience a contemporary voice in conversation with the past.
For aspiring artists watching Ben’s journey, his story illuminates several valuable lessons. First, authentic artistic expression often emerges from personal struggle and healing. Additionally, even established traditions can be reinvigorated through fresh perspectives and honest emotional connection. Most importantly, true artistic courage means facing intimidating comparisons while remaining faithful to one’s unique vision.
The Landscape Artist of the Year competition has therefore achieved something beyond discovering talent—it has bridged historical and contemporary artistic worlds. As Ben himself reflected with tears in his eyes, “This hasn’t just changed my career; it’s changed how I see myself as an artist.”
As sunlight streams through Somerset House’s windows, catching the distinctive textures of Ben’s brushwork, his painting stands not as an endpoint but as a beginning. His journey from darkness to light, from self-doubt to artistic confidence, continues to unfold like the sweeping landscapes of Provence. And somewhere, one imagines, Cézanne, Monet, and Van Gogh would approve of their newest neighbor.
Landscape Artist Of The Year 2025 Winner’s Film
Q: What is Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year competition?
A: Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year is a prestigious annual competition where 48 carefully selected artists compete by painting Britain’s most beautiful landscapes. The competition unfolds through various rounds at different iconic locations, with contestants being judged on their artistic skill, originality, and interpretation of the landscape. Ultimately, the winner receives a £10,000 commission to create artwork for a notable institution, such as the Courtauld Gallery in London, establishing them in the professional art world.
Q: Who is Ben McGregor and how did he win the 2025 competition?
A: Ben McGregor is a furniture maker turned artist who won the 2025 Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year competition. His journey began when he returned to art in his mid-30s during a period of depression, finding it to be his “absolute solace in life.” Throughout the competition, Ben impressed judges with his distinctive artistic vision, creating memorable works at Hampton Court Palace, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, and Stonehenge. His unique style, characterized by expressive brushwork and thoughtful compositions, ultimately secured him the coveted title and the £10,000 commission for the Courtauld Gallery.
Q: What was Ben McGregor’s Courtauld Gallery commission?
A: Ben McGregor’s commission for the Courtauld Gallery was to create a contemporary response to three extraordinary landscape paintings from their collection – works by Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Monet – all created in the South of France. As part of this prestigious task, Ben traveled to the exact locations that inspired these masters: Antibes (Monet), Aix-en-Provence (Cézanne), and Arles (Van Gogh). After immersing himself in these landscapes, Ben created a unique work that incorporated elements from his journey, specifically a view from Cézanne’s studio that reimagined the iconic Montagne Sainte-Victoire through his own artistic lens.
Q: How did Ben prepare for his commission in the South of France?
A: Ben thoroughly prepared for his commission through an immersive research journey across the South of France. First, he visited Antibes on the Côte d’Azur, working with local art historian Elodie Maire to understand how the region’s light transformed Monet’s palette. Next, Ben explored Aix-en-Provence with geologist Jerome Seguard, gaining insights into Cézanne’s understanding of Montagne Sainte-Victoire’s structure. Furthermore, he secured rare access to Cézanne’s studio and personal artifacts, including his original paint palette. Finally, Ben created studies in Arles where Van Gogh sought inspiration, connecting with the olive groves and landscapes that influenced the Dutch master’s work.
Q: What challenges did Ben face while creating his commissioned artwork?
A: Ben faced several formidable challenges while creating his commissioned artwork. Initially, he struggled with the overwhelming pressure of creating a piece worthy of hanging alongside masterpieces by Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Monet. Additionally, Ben experienced creative uncertainty after returning from France, finding it difficult to decide on his final direction. Perhaps his greatest challenge was capturing the essence of Montagne Sainte-Victoire, which he described as feeling “almost impossible” to tackle. Nevertheless, Ben overcame these obstacles by incorporating the mountain within the context of Cézanne’s studio, which provided a more relatable, human perspective that aligned with his own artistic vision.
Q: How was Ben’s painting received at the unveiling ceremony?
A: Ben’s painting received overwhelming praise during its unveiling at the Courtauld Gallery. As the red drape fell away, the audience of distinguished guests and judges responded with enthusiastic applause. Courtauld curator Barnaby Wright immediately exclaimed, “What an extraordinary picture!” while Judge Kate Bryan commended Ben’s ability to adapt his characteristically English palette to evoke the heat of the South of France. Significantly, critics celebrated how Ben had maintained his authentic style while skillfully absorbing influences from the masters. The consensus was that his work would “sit on these walls confidently” alongside the iconic paintings that inspired it, marking a triumphant conclusion to his artistic journey.
Q: What impact did winning have on Ben McGregor’s career and personal life?
A: Winning Landscape Artist of the Year transformed both Ben McGregor’s career and personal life profoundly. Professionally, it represented “the most significant thing” in his artistic career, elevating him from a furniture maker who painted in his spare time to an artist with work permanently displayed at the prestigious Courtauld Gallery. On a personal level, the experience marked a powerful journey of healing and self-discovery that began with his return to art during depression. Furthermore, the competition boosted his confidence as an artist and validated his unique style. As Ben himself reflected with emotion, the journey was “full of incredible moments” that he would “remember and cherish for the rest of my life.”
Q: How can aspiring artists apply for future seasons of Landscape Artist of the Year?
A: Aspiring artists can apply for future seasons of Landscape Artist of the Year by visiting the official website at skyartsartistoftheyear.tv when applications open. The process typically requires submitting examples of your landscape artwork along with a completed application form detailing your artistic background and approach. Successful applicants must demonstrate technical skill, originality, and a distinctive personal style. Moreover, candidates should prepare to paint outdoors in various weather conditions if selected. The competition welcomes artists working in diverse media and at different career stages. Above all, those with authentic artistic voices and meaningful connections to landscape painting, like Ben McGregor, often make the most compelling contestants.
