RICHMOND-based artist Lucy Pittaway has been crowned the UK’s Most Popular Published Artist for the third time in a row.
Lucy, who has galleries in Richmond, Brompton-on-Swale, Yarm and Keswick, was announced as the winner at the Fine Art Trade Guild (FATG) Awards held in Stratford Upon Avon this month (May 14).
Having been awarded the title for the first time in 2018 for her piece ‘Butterflies and Babies’, Lucy went on to win again in 2019 with her piece ‘A Yorkshire Garden’ which was created for the Chelsea Flower Show.
With the awards suspended during 2020 and 2021, this was the first time that the awarding body was back in full swing with Lucy taking centre stage once again for her piece ‘Our Happy Place’.
It makes her the only artist to win this award on three consecutive occasions, something Lucy described as 'an honour'.
She added: "For people to continue to welcome my art into their homes is such a joy, and the support we receive from our customers and collectors is nothing short of incredible.
"The past couple of years have certainly been challenging but we managed to keep smiling although there were moments when we thought that the business might not survive.
"This award makes all the hard work mean something."
Lucy said she found the Covid pandemic 'very emotionally draining' but said she was 'humbled and extremely grateful’ that her business continues to thrive after the disruption.
She added: "A special mention has to be given to the wonderful team at Pittaway HQ as well as the team at the Fine Art Trade Guild who continue to support not only myself but new and emerging artists."
Lucy's winning piece, ‘Our Happy Place’ was released in February 2021 as an addition to the already successful ‘Staycation’ collection.
The painting is a very personal piece as it is symbolic of Lucy’s family and the time they spend together at their caravan in the Lake District.
It resonated with people far and wide resulting in it being the standout piece from the ‘Staycation’ collection, as well as the overall best-selling piece of art for 2021.
Lucy, who attended school and art college in Darlington, formed the Lucy Pittaway Limited Business with her family in May 2015.
She soon started picking up awards for her work, including the Fine Art Trade Guild naming her the 'UK's Best Up and Coming Artist Of The Year' in 2016.
In 2016 and 2017 she was the official artist for the Tour de Yorkshire which helped introduce her works to a global audience.
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