Northumberland artist shortlisted for prestigious £10,000 Aesthetica Art Prize

The Aesthetica Art Prize celebrates contemporary art across a range of media from around the world, offering artists opportunities for exhibition at a major public gallery alongside publication in Aesthetica Magazine.

Among the finalists is Neil Armstrong. Originally from Yorkshire, Neil came to study fine art in Newcastle during the 70s and has lived in the North East ever since – moving to Rothbury four years ago.

His work has been shown across the world and in UK galleries as diverse as the Tate, the Serpentine, the ICA, DLI Museum Durham and the Hartlepool Gallery. He is also a previous winner of a Royal Television Society North East award.

Neil’s selected work is a video based around his self-penned verse called ‘The Tipping Point.’ It takes the form of a twin narration describing a fevered, dystopian ‘post truth’ world, portrayed as dream like internal dialogue.

The artist described the words as having ‘spilled out of him’ one day and only later, as world events unfolded, did he realise the significance of what he had written.

He said: “Being shortlisted for this award is really quite an honour, as it’s a validation of the work I’ve been making for a lot of years, and a recognition that others understand its value too.

“To be chosen by a panel of such distinguished judges from major UK art institutions does most definitely give one a boost that’s for sure, as making the work can otherwise be quite a solitary process – living in the wonderful Northumberland countryside as I do.”

The winner of the prize will be revealed on July 16 at York Art Gallery and Neil says the £10,000 prize money would be invested straight back into his art.

As one of the shortlisted artists, Neil’s work will also be on display in the gallery from August 17 to November 15

He added: “As far as winning the prize goes, to be honest I am just incredibly happy to be shortlisted because there are thousands of very talented artists from around the world who enter with their amazing work every year.”