PQR Financial Planning in Central London hangs various artists’ work in its offices and holds an annual competition to find clients’ top choice. Tonight it will reveal the winner for the year.
The business, run by a former fine art insurance broker, has displayed six works over the past 12 months.
The firm said its programme has proved to be a hit with clients and contacts by involving them, with all visitors encouraged to view the display and cast a vote for their preferred artist. Below are a selection of the entries.
PQR launched the PQaRt annual Artists in Residence programme soon after opening its Horseferry Road offices twelve years ago. The idea reflected its three founders’ passion for art and active support for artistic talent in the community.
Visitors have also had the opportunity to purchase their favourite works of art, with all sales benefiting the artists as no commission has been charged to them by PQR. All of this exposure has helped to promote and open up fresh opportunities for the artists involved, the company said.
Quentin Holland, PQR managing director and a former fine art insurance broker, said: “We started the PQaRt journey out of a somewhat selfish desire to have vibrant artwork decorating the walls of our offices without having to find the money to buy it.
“We have since hung over 20 artists’ work and this year's exhibition has exceptional quality, enhanced by the ideal setting of our new offices for hanging art within a business environment. Our clients remark that art changes our working space and brings it alive.
“So, our sincerest thanks go to all the artists for allowing us (in the words of Auguste Rodin) ‘to tremble’ with them for the past year. The prize-giving fittingly reflects the interest in the artists' works shown by visitors to our offices, with over 300 votes cast.”
Guests at the evening event will witness the high point of the season, when the results of the year-long ballot are announced. There will be cash prizes for the top three artists: £2,000 for the winner, a £1,000 second prize and a £500 award for third.
The participants are: visual artist and illustrator Anastasia Belous, US-born artist Christina Mamakos, Hannah Campion, abstract painter Julia Steinmuller, T-Mo Bauer and ‘secessionist’ Zsud Udvarhelyi.