Still enjoying her achievement at being a Semi-Finalist from this year’s SKY ARTS Landscape Artist of the Year competition, artist Anne Byrne was doubly excited to be invited to appear as Artist in Residence on the ITV programme Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.  

About Love Your Weekend

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh is aired on Sunday mornings at 9.30am on ITV (and then on ITVx to catch up).

The programme covers topics related to activities and life associated with the British landscape and countryside as well as interviews with celebrities from the world of TV and entertainment. 

The show is hosted from its home at the timeless Manor Farm in Hampshire and Anne was thrilled to be invited along to create a painting on location of this special location. 

Anne's experience

Besides having the opportunity to capture the idyllic location in oils, Anne was completely thrilled to meet Alan Titchmarsh MBE and be interviewed by him on camera.

Filming began in the morning and Anne was filmed talking with Alan about how she begins a painting after which she was left to create her final painting which was shown later in the programme and revealed to Alan and the viewers. 

Of her experience, Anne said; “I was totally taken by surprise to be invited on the programme as Artist in Residence and it was especially thrilling to meet a national treasure such as Alan Titchmarsh. I’ve watched Alan over the years in numerous gardening programmes so meeting him in person was a real treat. He was so very warm and welcoming and was genuinely interested in my process as well as painting and art in general.  

"Besides meeting Alan Titchmarch an added bonus was that the painting I created on the day of the farmhouse and grounds will now be a permanent feature in the Barn. It’s a strange feeling still to tune in on Sunday mornings to the programme and depending on where the guests are positioned for their chats with Alan, I can see my painting just behind them on the Barn wall!”

Of the surroundings Anne said, “Manor Farm and the surrounding Hampshire countryside is completely idyllic - almost not ‘of this time’ on some of the quieter lanes.  

"The weather on filming day was changeable but I enjoyed the challenge of chasing a changing light caused by a flurry of sunny spells mixed in with rain.

"The day was less pressured than that of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year and so I had an opportunity to savour the timeless qualities of the farm and its surrounding countryside. In these quieter moments, I was able to reflect and draw on that sense of place to pick up the essentials. Hopefully it shows in my response and the finished piece”. 

Where to watch

You can watch how Anne got on and see her finished painting on Series 5, Episode 24 of ITV’s Love Your Weekend on ITVx  (originally aired on ITV on October 1st 2023). 

See more of Annes work on her website and social media:

• www.annebyrneartist.com 
• www.facebook.com/annebyrnepainter 
• www.instagram.com/annebyrnepainter