Paddy Power has placed English Romantic era poet and printmaker William Blake at evens to replace 18th century Scottish economist Adam Smith as the new face of the £20 note by the Bank of England.
The Bank of England has announced that it wishes to tribute Britain’s achievements in visual and literary arts, and is seeking public nominations for the cultural figurehead who will be the face of the new £20 note.
However the honorary Brit cannot be alive, as the Queen can be the only living person that appears on British currency, which rules out cheeky Paddy Power’s market odds for TV chef Ainsley Harriott at 100/1 and former Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley at 500/1
Opening its Bank of England market on the next face to appear on the £20 note, Paddy Power appears to favour a Romantic era figurehead, with 17th century artists JMW Turner (4/1) and John Constable (6/1) second and third favourites to be elected.
Abstract painter and sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth is currently the only female to be priced by Paddy Power at 8/1. Hepworth is joined by semi-abstract sculptor Henry Spencer Moore as the two most contemporary cultural figureheads to have made the Paddy Power list.
It is highly likely that Paddy Power will add more cultural names to its market, since in May Mark Carney the Bank of England Governor opened public suggestions for the new face of the £20 note
“There are a wealth of individuals within the field of visual arts whose work shaped British thought, innovation, leadership, values and society and who continue to inspire people today. I greatly look forward to hearing from the public who they would like to celebrate.” Carney noted
The public nominations could include artists, sculptors, printmakers, designers, craftspeople, ceramicists, architects, fashion designers, photographers and film makers.
