Nation reveals favourite artwork


The nation has declared its favourite piece of art as a stencil by street artist Banksy.


In a survey commissioned by Samsung for the launch of its new television that camouflages as a work of art, the people of Britain were asked to vote for their best-loved pieces.

Banksy’s now iconic image of a little girl reaching for her balloon came out on top over works by Turner and John Constable.

The Hay Wein, John Constable 

The original artwork was a stencil on a grimy shop wall in east London. Since then it has gained a lot of traction, famously appeared on the side of a Bridge on the South Bank, London and has been printed on greeting cards, mugs and even Justin Beiber as one of his many tattoos.

The original mural has now been removed and sold at auction for £500,000. A smaller version of the image that was painted on cardboard backing of an Ikea frame sold for £73,250 in 2012.

The Hay Wein by John Constable came second in the survey followed by Jack Vettriano’s The Singing Butler.

A number of album covers made the cut including Peter Blake’s art work for the Sgt Pepper album cover for the Beatles and Hipgnosis and George Hardie’s  Dark Side of the Moon album cover for Pink Floyd.


Peter Blake’s art work for the Sgt Pepper album cover

The winners were chosen from a shortlist of five created by notable arts writers and voted for by 2,000 people.

The survey also revealed that people often feel judged by the art that they have on their walls with some even going as far to remove pieces when they know judgmental guests are visiting!


Hipgnosis and George Hardie’s Dark Side of the Moon album cover for Pink Floyd

View the Nation’s top 20 works of art below:

1 Banksy Girl with Balloon

2 John Constable The Hay Wain

3 Jack Vettriano The Singing Butler

4 JMW Turner The Fighting Temeraire

5 Antony Gormley The Angel of the North

6 LS Lowry Going to the Match

7 John William Waterhouse The Lady of Shalott

8 Peter Blake Sgt Pepper album cover

9 Hipgnosis and George Hardie Dark Side of the Moon album cover

10 George Stubbs Mares and Foals in a River Landscape

11 Thomas Gainsborough Mr and Mrs Andrews

12 John Everett Millais Ophelia

13 Andy Goldsworthy Balanced Rock Misty

14 David Hockney A Bigger Splash

15 Bridget Riley Movement in Squares

16 Anish Kapoor ArcelorMittal Orbit

17 Stik A Couple Hold Hands in the Street

18 Maggi Hambling Scallop

19 Henry Moore Reclining Figure

20 Jamie Reid Never Mind the Bollocks album cover








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