Watercolour Challenge
Encyclopedia
Watercolour Challenge was a daytime
television
programme broadcast in the United Kingdom
.
It was presented by Hannah Gordon
and directed by Tim Conrad and was shown on Channel 4
from 1998 until 2001.
In the programme three amateur artist
s are given four hours to paint, in watercolour, the same scene or landscape, often with widely different interpretations. At the end of the four hours the guest professional artist for the week judges the painting
s and selects the winner, who would then appear in a regional final, and if successful would compete in the end of season final.
The guest artist also has a segment where they provide tip
s for the watching audience to improve their painting technique.
The locations of each landscape painted changed in each programme, with various regions of both Great Britain
and Ireland
being visited, as well as a special show from Provence
. The 2002 final was held in Tuscany
.
Expert art judges included the artists Jason Bowyer, Mike Chaplin
, Annette Kane, Hazel Soan, and Jenny Wheatley. In 1999 Timmy Mallett
was a regional judge for one episode of the show. A celebrity edition was produced, including Bill Oddie
and Phillip Franks.
The show was briefly presented by Cherie Lunghi
when Hannah Gordon was unable to do so due to illness.
In 2001 it won a Royal Television Society (RTS)
award
in the category of Best Features - Daytime.
There have been two books written related to the television programme, "Watercolour Challenge": A Complete Guide to Watercolour Painting by Diana Vowles and "Watercolour Challenge": Practical Painting Course from Channel 4 books.
Daytime television
Daytime television is the general term for television shows produced that are intended to air during the daytime hours on weekdays. This article is about American daytime television, for information about international daytime television see Daytime television....
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programme broadcast in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
It was presented by Hannah Gordon
Hannah Gordon
Hannah Cambell Grant Gordon is a Scottish actress who is well known in the United Kingdom for her television work, including Upstairs, Downstairs, Telford's Change, My Wife Next Door, Joint Account and an appearance in the final episode of One Foot in the Grave.-Early life:Gordon was born in...
and directed by Tim Conrad and was shown on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
from 1998 until 2001.
In the programme three amateur artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s are given four hours to paint, in watercolour, the same scene or landscape, often with widely different interpretations. At the end of the four hours the guest professional artist for the week judges the painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s and selects the winner, who would then appear in a regional final, and if successful would compete in the end of season final.
The guest artist also has a segment where they provide tip
Tip
A tip is an extra payment made to certain service sector workers in addition to the advertised price of the transaction. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry...
s for the watching audience to improve their painting technique.
The locations of each landscape painted changed in each programme, with various regions of both Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
being visited, as well as a special show from Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
. The 2002 final was held in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
.
Expert art judges included the artists Jason Bowyer, Mike Chaplin
Mike Chaplin
Michael James Chaplin NDD, RWS, RE, FRSA is a British artist, known primarily for his work in the mediums of etching and watercolour. He was guest art expert on the Channel 4 art programme Watercolour Challenge with Hannah Gordon.-Life:Mike was born at Little Barford, to the south of St...
, Annette Kane, Hazel Soan, and Jenny Wheatley. In 1999 Timmy Mallett
Timmy Mallett
Timmy Mallett is a TV presenter and broadcaster in the UK. He achieved cult status on BBC Radio Oxford and Manchester's Piccadilly Radio and later on TV-am...
was a regional judge for one episode of the show. A celebrity edition was produced, including Bill Oddie
Bill Oddie
William "Bill" Edgar Oddie OBE is an English author, actor, comedian, artist, naturalist and musician, who became famous as one of The Goodies....
and Phillip Franks.
The show was briefly presented by Cherie Lunghi
Cherie Lunghi
Cherie M. Lunghi is an English film, television and theatre actress. She is probably best known for her role as Guinevere in the 1981 film Excalibur, as football manageress Gabriella Benson in the 1990s television series The Manageress and for starring in a series of adverts for Kenco coffee. She...
when Hannah Gordon was unable to do so due to illness.
In 2001 it won a Royal Television Society (RTS)
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
award
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
in the category of Best Features - Daytime.
There have been two books written related to the television programme, "Watercolour Challenge": A Complete Guide to Watercolour Painting by Diana Vowles and "Watercolour Challenge": Practical Painting Course from Channel 4 books.
Series guide
- Series 1: 49 editions first shown 15 June 1998 - 4 September 1998
- Series 2: 60 editions first shown 2 June 1999 - 29 October 1999
- Series 3: 50 editions first shown 16 October 2000 - 22 December 2000
- Series 4: 51 editions first shown 3 September 2001 - 23 November 2001
External links
Books
- "Watercolour Challenge": A Complete Guide to Watercolour Painting
- "Watercolour Challenge": Practical Painting Course