Election Artist
27 July 2020
Since 2001, the Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art has commissioned an artist to follow and document each General Election, creating a unique permanent artwork for Parliament.
Elections have been the subject of paintings and engravings since the 18th century and recording each General Election has become an important part of the Committee's acquisition strategy. The artworks record the process, outcome and main themes of each General Election, aiming to achieve both political and geographic balance.
Previous artists have included portraitist Jonathan Yeo and Turner Prize nominee Cornelia Parker. The official Election Artist for the 2019 General Election was Nicky Hirst, a London based artist working in a variety of media. Nicky's final artwork, 'There Was A Time 2019-20’, joined the Parliamentary Art Collection in 2022.
Further information
- There Was A Time, 2019-20 - Heritage Collections at UK Parliament
- Election Artist Nicky Hirst reveals contemporary addition to the Parliamentary Art Collection
- Instagram - Election Artist 2019
Image credit: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor