The ING Discerning Eye exhibition is an annual art show that takes place every November at the Mall Galleries in London, though this year has seen it move online, like most other public events, due to the ensuing lockdown restrictions. Discerning Eye was founded as a charity in 1990 to encourage a wider appreciation of art. The selection panel consists of two art critics, two artists and two art collectors who select work through inviting established artists and through the open public submission, which always attracts a lot of entrees.

I am pleased to say that 2020 is the third year that I am showing at this prestigious event and it is always exciting and rewarding to be part of the experience. 

The first year I showed at Discerning Eye was 2017 and it was a thrill to attend the public opening night and see my artwork hanging on the wall alongside other artists’ work. In addition to mingling with the other artists I was also able to thank in person the selector who chose my work. My painting ‘Central Street EC1V’ reflected the kind of subject matter that I continue to explore in my work such as night time electric lighting, street furniture and parked vehicles. These themes are also present in my subsequent submissions to the Discerning Eye.

Getting one’s pictures selected for a competition is ultimately about persistence. The mantra “you’ve got to be in if you want to win” is especially true when it comes to submitting artwork, especially as there can literally be thousands of entries. Such volume means that judges might only have a fleeting moment to assess each piece. The disappointment of heading to the Discerning Eye collection point at Carlton Terrace to pick up unselected paintings on many occasions over the years naturally feels frustrating but it is ultimately a rite of passage when developing an art career. I have always taken encouragement that artwork that is not selected one year can always be resubmitted for another event. The panel of judges will always be different each time and they have their own ‘discerning eye’ and subjective viewpoint. I have resubmitted work with positive results.

One of the Discerning Eye’s selection criteria is that artwork should be of ‘domestic scale’ i.e. less than 20 inches in any dimension. Several of my selected paintings measure 10 x 15cm, including this year’s offerings ‘West Hampstead Station’ and ‘Nightingale Lane N8’. These continue in the vein of my urban night scenes that have been selected for the exhibition over the years. Winning formula? Well, as mentioned earlier, each judge is different.

The ING Discerning Eye 2020 online exhibition runs until 31st December. With thanks to panellists Beverley Knight and Tabish Khan for selecting my work, which can be found here.