TV critic Brian Sewell, who criticised the North-East last year for being too unsophisticated to appreciate good art, will return to the region in October in search of the next leading artist.

Mr Sewell will be joined by designer Wayne Hemmingway and Newcastle artist Jane Wilson when the semi-final stage of TV's Big Art Challenge is filmed at Gateshead's Baltic art centre.

The contest, where traditional and conceptual art go head-to-head for a £10,000 prize, is being filmed as six half-hour programmes for Channel Five following a pilot show.

The Tyne Tees TV art battle was called The Hanging Jury, and Mr Hemingway was one of the judges. The winner was Sonny Williams, from Sunderland.

The final will take place in November, with viewers able to select the winner of a £2,000 prize after 4,000 entrants are reduced to 40 and asked to produce a piece of work.

The Baltic, the Lowry in Manchester, and Glasgow School of Art will feature in the series.

The first Big Art Challenge programme will be shown at 7.30pm on October 14.

Published: 12/08/2004