The last decade has been quite a journey for Lucy Pittaway, both as an artist and as a businesswoman.

And that combined contribution to the national art scene and the local economy has seen the North-East based artist shortlisted for the prestigious Business IQ Awards. Lucy Pittaway Ltd has been named as a finalist in Creative Business of the Year Award 2025.

The Business IQ Awards celebrate the business achievements that make the North-East exceptional.

Lucy said: I’m delighted that Lucy Pittaway Ltd has been shortlisted for this award, it is a huge honour. The creative arts can play such an important role in helping us all to navigate the challenges of life and also in supporting the local economy.”

Lucy has gathered a national following which has established her as Britain’s most popular published artist.

Alongside her art, her business has also blossomed with eight galleries across the North East, Yorkshire and Lake District. The business employs more than 55 staff across the galleries, warehouse and creative HQ at Brompton-on-Swale which includes a marketing and distribution base, studio, office, photography suite and framing gallery.

Meanwhile, demand from loyal followers has seen Lucy’s art extend from original paintings to now also include prints, canvasses and a wide range of stationery, homeware, greetings cards and ceramics.

One of her latest works, a tribute to the felled Sycamore Gap tree, has now sold over 4,440 prints with Lucy establishing a fund to help create a series of legacy woodland projects to commemorate the tree’s memory.

And her commitment to encouraging art for all children has seen her develop a programme of free access resources for schools that follow the key stages of the national curriculum.

Lucy Pittaway and the other finalists in the Creative Business of the Year category will gather with businesses from across the region for the awards ceremony at Wynyard Hall on April 11^th this year.