Interviews with the Judges: Magnus Brooke

The Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize Judging Panel is a selection of highly respected and renowned individuals in the art world, who cover a wide range of viewpoints and varied tastes for all movements, mediums and types of fine art.

In the latest of a series of interviews, we ask guest judge Magnus Brooke, Director at ITV plc, the questions many artists have asked us as well as some that will help us get to know her better and some insight into his involvement in the arts.

​If you have any new questions, feel free to comment below...

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Q1: Tell us about where your passion for the visual arts came from? 
I can probably trace it back to being dragged around churches in Italy by my parents when I was young.  At some stage I stopped hating it and learned to love it.  Although I didn't study art history at University, I loved the Fitzwilliam and Kettles Yard in Cambridge and in my final year borrowed a contemporary painting from Kettles Yard to hang in my room.   I lugged the very large picture back from the gallery and was astonished at their level of trust in me.  
 
Q2: Are there particular styles or genres you are drawn to? 
I love painting, but also appreciate photography too.  I still find it very thrilling to see how painters can transform a bare two dimensional canvas into something fascinating, beautiful and sometimes controversial. I've always been drawn to the romantic in art and love to find contemporary expressions of romanticism in all media.
 
Q3: What artists or exhibitions have caught your eye in recent months?
I was blown away by the Frank Bowling exhibition at Tate Britain -- quite a mystery how he has remained so under the radar. I also loved rediscovering the Valenciennes oil sketches in deserted rooms in the Louvre recently.
 
Q6: As the judge what are you looking forward to seeing in entrant’s applications?
Confidence and the ability to say something striking and distinctive.
 
Q7: If there is one piece of advice you would give those thinking of submitting work what would it be?
Do it – nothing ventured, nothing gained!   And consider that the initial sifting will be made online.