2016-05-04 Wed

The reverse of the new £20 banknote which is scheduled for release in 2020, will feature the 19th century English painter J.M.W. Turner. He was known as the “the painter of light” because his paintings portray minute shifts in colour and atmosphere, especially in his landscapes and seascapes.

Turner was nominated out of 590 other candidates through 29,701 public voting submissions. The selection process was managed by a Banknote Character Advisory Committee.

A concept note features Turner’s self-portrait, his painting The Fighting Temeraire, a quote, “Light is therefore colour,” from an 1818 lecture by Turner; and Turner’s signature from his will. The final design and its security features will be revealed later.

The £20 bank note will be third polymer note of the country. The £5 note will be issued in September and the £10 note in 2017.