Bank of England reveals new £20 note nominees

Fashion designer Alexander McQueen, author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, and Gerry Anderson, creator of the science-fiction puppet show Thunderbirds, are among hundreds of figures from the art world nominated to appear on the new £20 note.

The two-month public nomination period is now over, and the bank received 19,000 nominations in total.

Among the 436 nominations submitted to the Bank of England to vote for a figure historic artistic figure to next appear on the £20 note, only 90 are women, reports The Guardian.

Bank of England officials will now draw up a shortlist of three to five names. Its governor, Mark Carney, will make the final decision which will be announced in spring 2016, alongside a concept image showing the portrait as it will appear on the note.

“The fact that so many visual artists have been put forward underlines the extent of British achievement in the visual arts and reinforces why this field deserves to be recognised on the next £20 note,” said chief cashier Victoria Cleland.

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