Carrot Gold – SAA Artist of the Year 2026 Finalist – See more of my work at H.Art

I’m delighted to share some exciting news: my painting Carrot Gold has been selected as one of just 50 finalists in the SAA Artist of the Year 2026 competition.

I entered two paintings in the professional category this year – Rainbow Parrot Tulip and Carrot Gold – and was thrilled when both works were shortlisted. I’ve now heard that Carrot Gold has gone one step further and will be taking part in the final judging.

A little painting with a golden twist

Carrot Gold is a postcard-sized oil painting depicting a single hanging carrot, painted against a background of genuine 23-carat gold leaf.

The painting is part of a new series in which I’m exploring familiar English food sayings through visual wordplay. I love the idea of taking words and phrases we know so well and interpreting them in an unexpected way through paint.

There’s something particularly enjoyable about combining an everyday subject such as a carrot with the precious, luminous quality of gold leaf. As the light changes, so does the gold surrounding the painted image, giving this small work a presence that belies its size.

The painting will be part of the SAA Artist of the Year 2026 Exhibition Exhibition at Kingston Art Space in London.

The Artists of the Year 2026 exhibition is open to the public from Wednesday 7th October 2026 to Sunday 11th October 2026, inclusive.

See my gold leaf paintings during h.Art

The Cherry on Top of the Cake

If you’re visiting h.Art – Herefordshire Art Week, I’d be delighted to welcome you to my home studio at Venue 106, where you can see more of my oil paintings on gold leaf and discover the work behind this developing series. I will also be selling Fine Art Prints and cards. Our daughter, Francesca Currie, is also exhibiting her oil paintings in the same house at Venue 105. We are open from 5th September-13th September from 11am to 5pm. On Saturday 5th September our studios will be hosted by family and friends due to a family wedding.

You can also find my work nearby at Venue 104, The Nest. The Nest is exhibiting my work throughout September and their opening times are Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10-3.30. Here you will some of my larger oil paintings and work on gold leaf.

I hope to see some of you there – and in the meantime, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for this little golden carrot!