CONTEXT

CONTEXT

The Bank of England has been issuing banknotes for over 300 years. It allows us to celebrate people who have shaped UK society through their thought innovation, leadership or values. 

The Bank of England uses British examples who are widely admired and who have made an important contribution to our society and culture. They also avoid fictional characters, or people who are still living (except the monarch on the front of the note).

In 2016, The Bank of England announced that the artist JMW Turner would appear on the next £20 note. Turner is perhaps one of the most influential British artist of all time. His work was transformative, bridging the classical and modern worlds. His influence spanned his lifetime, and his work has an important contribution to British society.  

Banknotes really focus on the celebration of the U.K and it’s history, they also convey values. For example the £5 has Winston Churchill stating “I have nothing to offer but, blood, toil, tears and sweat.” Current Bank notes do symbolize British representatives who promote strong values. Having Turner on the banknote creates more interest in the arts and could perhaps influence others to partake in the arts or at least promotes the culture. However there are more pressing matters that could be addressed by tweaking the ethos of currency design.