Katie Sims
News
Environmental advocate, local artist and BSU alumna becomes contestant on Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year
Tuesday, 24 February, 2026Katie Sims is a Somerset-based artist with a Fine Art degree from BSU and a successful career underway. She recently reached new heights, appearing as a contestant on Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year, which began airing on Wednesday 28 January 2026.
Landscape Artist of the Year, Sky Arts' flagship arts competition, returned in January for its 11th year. The series, presented by Stephen Mangan, celebrates talent from artists in the UK and Ireland, who have displayed their talent of capturing Britain's beautiful scenery.
Featuring some of the UK’s most iconic landmarks, the eight artists compete in heats where they are given just four hours to capture the scene. Alongside this, 50 wildcard entrants paint alongside them in hopes of catching the judges’ eye.
The winner of each heat will progress until the final, where one talented artist will receive the title of ‘Landscape Artist of the Year 2026’, and receive £10,000 commission to paint Ireland’s Croagh Patrick, a holy mountain in county Mayo, for the National Gallery of Ireland.
Katie reflected her thoughts on appearing on the programme:
“Competing on Landscape Art of The Year has been high on my bucket list for the last 10 years and through perseverance and hard work, it finally paid off”
Katie’s practice focuses on raising awareness of the UK’s rare Atlantic temperate rainforests - fragile ecosystems found along the Atlantic coastline that play a vital role in biodiversity, carbon storage, flood mitigation, and mental wellbeing. Through painting, workshops, and community engagement, Katie uses art to reconnect people with these landscapes and inspire action - whether through creative reflection or hands-on involvement in restoration.
"Over the past year, I have connected and collaborated with other creatives - artists, poets, printmakers, ecologists, and many more, who all have the same motives of protecting the land, which is so humbling and exciting. You can find out about these projects via my Instagram and perhaps even join the community!"
A key painting from her practice, “Fallen Oak,” created at Cabilla Woods on Bodmin Moor, featured on the upcoming art programme. The work was made with the support of the charity The Thousand Year Trust, who are leading temperate rainforest restoration efforts across Cornwall and the rest of the UK.
“Most of us are unaware that we are a rainforest nation - up to 20% of the land was once covered in lush green temperate rainforest. Today, less than 1% of them remain. Collectively, we can bring these forests back through restoration and regeneration, especially to Somerset, where very little of these habitats are found.”
Recounting why “Fallen Oak” was pivotal in this exciting opportunity, Katie said:
“The painting’s themes of resilience, rerooting, and regeneration resonated strongly with the judges and played a significant role in my selection for the show.”
Katie’s journey so far is awash with art, wellbeing, community, and environmental restoration. Alongside her studio practice, Katie is currently building on her BSU degree, studying for a Master’s in Creative Practice with Make Happen Institute accredited by Plymouth Marjon University. As part of this she is developing tools for community-led art, environmental education, and wellbeing-focused creative engagement.
Before becoming a full-time artist, she spent seven years teaching art and photography, including time as Head of Art, and continues to work closely with local communities through inclusive workshops, and outreach with environmental charities.
Most recently, to coincide with the broadcast, Katie presented an exhibition titled “Forest Floor to Sky Arts” at the Taunton Library Gallery, showcasing work inspired by temperate rainforests across Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. A portion of all sales from the exhibition are being donated back to The Thousand Year Trust, supporting ongoing rainforest restoration.
Catch up on this year’s series of Landscape Artist of the Year on Sky Arts, Freeview Channel 36, and streaming on NOW, ahead of the final, airing on March 4, 2026. Keep up to date with Katie’s practice and community work on her Instagram: @katiesimsart.