A painter who runs art classes around Mansfield and Ashfield is preparing to showcase her impressive talents on the national stage.

That is because Alexandra Ghimisi is set to feature as a wild card entrant in the latest series of Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year competition.

It will see gifted Alexandra, who runs regular art sessions in Newstead, Southwell, Ravenshead and Nottingham, head to Whitby on 22nd June for a one off appearance on the cult show.

“I competed as a wildcard on last year’s show in St James’s Park, London,” reveals Alexandra. “It was great and I feel I have learned a lot from that experience.

Award-winning artist and educator Alexandra Ghimisi runs regular acrylic painting courses throughout Notts. She is set to appear on Sky Arts laqter this month as part of the channel's Landscape Artist of the Year competition.

placeholder image — Award-winning artist and educator Alexandra Ghimisi runs regular acrylic painting courses throughout Notts. She is set to appear on Sky Arts laqter this month as part of the channel's Landscape Artist of the Year competition.

“I am more experienced this year and I know what to do. Working around the clock to produce a painting is nerve-wracking because there are judges, there are visitors, there is the public who want to see and ask you about things. You need to give insight into you and your practice as well as producing art work.

“Yes there is pressure, but I know I can deliver. I know that I can paint because this is what I have done for the last ten years. In fact, I already have three canvasses prepared and my intention is to not paint one, but three. It is exciting.”

Alexandra, who is also a Fellow of the Nottingham Society of Artists, will be tasked with producing a painting based on the North Yorkshire town’s iconic whale bones.

It’s a scene that Alexndra is not familiar with having never been to the popular coastal resort before.

Alexandra is tasked with creating an interpretative painting of the iconic whale bones in Whitby.

“I have not been to Whitby before so I will spend two days before the competition to get familiar with the area,” she added. “We have the vista and everyone is free to interpret the subject and choose angles.

“It is responding to the subject, but at the same time impressing the judges. Maybe they will see something different and remember my name. There is a real thrill and excitement of working with other artists.

“It is a very nice opportunity and I will keep competing because my aim is to be one of the main artists in the pod.

“ It is important to be there and a great privilege because in our area we are under-represented.”

Wild Card artists set up their own easels at the official heat locations and have four hours to create a landscape, with one standout artist selected by the judges as the Wild Card winner for that episode.

The popular show, which is hosted by Stephen Magnan and is now in its 12th series, sees ten gifted artists take on landscape challenges across the country as part of the show’s main

competition.

Armed with their easels, canvases and art tools entrants compete across six heats with one contestant eliminated each episode until the grand finale

That nerve-wracking showcase will see three remaining artists battle it out for the title of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year and a £10,000 commission to produce an artwork for public display at a National Institution,

Visit www.alexandraghimisiart.com for more information on Alexandra’s art work and exhibitions.