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One of Britain’s most celebrated painters is set to be the next face to appear on the £20 banknote, it emerged today.
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney revealed JMW Turner will be the latest to feature on the currency, replacing Scottish economist Adam Smith.
The design on the reverse of the new note will include Turner’s self-portrait and one of his key works The Fighting Temeraire – a tribute to the ship HMS Temeraire which played an important role in Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.
It will also include the artist’s signature from his will, the document with which he bequeathed many of his paintings to the country.
Artist Tracey Emin said at the announcement: “It's so amazing that an artist has been chosen for the £20 note and an artist who was a wild maverick.
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"It's wonderful that Britain's creative side is being honoured in this way and of course I am especially happy because it is Turner and he loved Margate."
Born in Covent Garden, Turner became renowned as one of the country’s greatest painters.
He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1790 when he was 15 and was elected an academy associate when he was 24, the youngest age permitted.
Throughout his life he produced more than 550 oil paintings, 2,000 watercolours, and 30,000 sketches and drawings.
His legacy continues today with the Turner Prize contested by British artists since 1984 and the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate, which displays a wide range of modern art influenced by the artist.
The current £20 note has carried a picture of economist Adam Smith since 2007.
The Bank has said it is moving to polymer banknotes as they are cleaner, more secure and more durable than paper banknotes and provide greater resilience against counterfeiting.
Additional reporting by Press Association