KIM WHITBY: I have lots of exciting plans for the future

Artist Kim Whitby at work on a landscape on the Sky Arts show

I would like to thank everyone who has taken the trouble to contact me during the series and let me know that they were watching.

Thank you for your support.

Stuart Prebble, one of the main producers at Storyvault, the production company, tells me that viewer numbers have been substantially up on previous years.

Taking part in the programme was such a fun and unexpected experience.

I took part as a wildcard entry – I never really anticipated getting as far as the final.

Everyone who was part of the production was very good company and there was a buzz of excitement on each filming day.

Artistically, whenever your work gets selected or noticed it is incredibly encouraging.

As an artist you have little else with which to gauge your own artistic judgement against.

And it’s always useful to get some constructive criticism and feedback about your work.

It helps define the areas you wish to develop.

I think if you have a positive mindset to try new things then you can get lots from an experience like taking part in Landscape Artist of the Year.

I have lots of exciting plans for the future as I do like to keep busy.

I have additional new adult teaching on the horizon in the new year, both locally in the Fareham area, and really excitingly on Thursdays in London, for the first time.

I am also continuing to work within the heritage sector and further developing the relationship I have with Hampshire Cultural Trust.

I can’t say any more about the potential project at the moment, but I will say it would be a great honour to work within the setting they have approached me about.

The future will also see me continuing to develop my own practice, taking commissions, and entering competitions and exhibitions.

I am a regular blogger so if you would like to find out what I’m up to you can find me on my website blog, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

If you are interested in developing your artistic skills you can find out all about it on my website kimwhitby.com.