Sky Goes for 7 Wonder Series on British Art

LONDON: 7 Wonder has been commissioned to produce the six-part series Tate Britain’s Great British Walks for Sky Arts.

In partnership with Tate Britain, the series will take viewers on a journey across landscapes that have intrigued some of the U.K.’s top painters, from Constable, Powell Frith and Turner, to Hogarth, Herman and Wallis. The series will put a spotlight on London’s backstreets, rural Suffolk, the Scottish borders and the mining villages of South Wales, among other locations. It will also tell the stories of the famous artists.

The hour-long episodes will be hosted by British curator and cultural historian Gus Casley-Hayford. Casley-Hayford will walk the varied landscapes with British talent such as Michael Sheen, Miriam Margolyes, Danny Baker, Cerys Matthews, Simon Callow and Richard E. Grant.

Creative England co-invested in the series and is executive producing through its partnership with Sky. Together, Sky and Creative England plan to co-invest in additional productions similar to Tate Britain’s Great British Walks. These projects will come from independent producers in regional England and will be transmitted on Sky channels in the U.K.

Phil Edgar-Jones, the director of Sky Arts, said, “Tate Britain’s Great British Walks is a unique new landmark series commissioned in partnership with Tate Britain. In each film, we are art detectives in the magnificent company of well-loved British figures, undertaking epic journeys across the nation to discover paintings that hold a personal resonance for them. The guests have been remarkably open and passionate, not just about art, but about their lives, Britain and the timeless spirit of its landscape and peoples.”

Michelle Crowther, series producer at 7 Wonder, commented, “This series is an absolute treat to put together. Not only has partnering with Tate Britain given us unique access to a fountain of knowledge, but rediscovering the landscapes has been incredibly exciting. With Gus as a guide, these journeys have provided a backdrop to some highly illuminating and intimate conversations between him and our talent, and we hope that viewers will enjoy rediscovering these artists’ landscapes with a 21-century twist.”

Solomon Nwabueze, the director of content at Creative England, added, “We’re delighted and excited to have supported a regional television production company such as 7 Wonder, bringing this entertaining and engaging art show to fruition.”