Leicester-based amateur artist Simon Farrow has won the coveted Attenborough Award at this year’s Open exhibition, selected from over 1,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, and photographs.
Farrow’s winning entry, a striking drawing of Leicester’s iconic Clock Tower, is now on display at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery. Titled Clock Tower: Heaven or Hell, the work depicts a street preacher in a high-visibility jacket, a placard behind him, and passers-by bathed in the summer sun—a scene captured by Farrow in 2024.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
“I’ve drawn many areas of Leicester over the years, taking pictures to find new views, and I just thought this was a great image,” Farrow said. “I love the slightly grumpy passers-by and the preacher man with his sign saying, ‘Heaven or Hell – the choice is yours.’ The whole scene was bathed in the midday sun, highlighting the lovely Clock Tower. I’ve always enjoyed drawing as a hobby, but now I’m going to have to up my game for next year!”
Farrow, who has entered the competition most years since 2015, said this is his first time winning a prize.
The Open: The People’s Exhibition, which showcases artistic talent from across the East Midlands, also announced other winners:
- Leicester Museums & Galleries Development Trust award: Peter J Lester, Beacon Granite
- Art House award: Lisa Davies, Looming
- CVAN East Midlands award: Alexis Hutson, Daughter
- LCB Depot awards: Nneka Iwunna Ezemezue (Chinyere), Monet Shot (Ceramic Study #1), Bethan Hemus (Who’s In Charge?)
- Gallery (De Montfort University) award: David Rolls, 030 Red Sunset
- Leicester Print Workshop award: Bethan Hemus, IAMPARTOFALLIHAVEMET
- Phoenix award: Claire Jackson, Jeu de Paume
In the young people’s category, Attenborough awards were presented to:
- Ages 16-18: Olivia Van Der Ende, Grit
- Ages 11-15: William Addison-Smith, My Family. As Slugs (tin foil, polymer, and acrylic paint)
- Ages 5-10: Will Wright, Northern Lights
Leicester Museums & Galleries Development Trust awards for young artists went to:
- Ages 16-18: Kaif Shabir, Frozen in Wire
- Ages 10-15: Aashi Derashri, Still Life with Pink Flowers
- Ages 5-10: Finley Murphy-Evans, Wild Gaze
Other winners in the young people’s category included Cherry Yuen, Will Blakemore, KFH, Sophia Howson, Connie Bennett, Jemima Hungbeme, Lilia Chester, and Ava Coulson.
The exhibition, featuring all winning entries and hundreds more, runs at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery until Friday, 30 January 2026. Admission is free, and adult category artworks are available to purchase, with prices starting at £50. Purchased pieces can be collected from the museum after the exhibition closes.
