Harry Hill, Vic Reeves and Joe Lycett in the Summer Exhibition

Harry Hill, Vic Reeves and Joe Lycett have all had artworks accepted into the Royal Academy of Arts’ prestigious Summer Exhibition.

The show opened last month, and Hill has already sold his oil painting, Celine’s House,  for £1,200.

It is based on an aerial view of the Florida mansion that Canadian singer Celine Dion sold for $24 million in 2017, with the words ‘This is all mine’ written on it.

Submitting under his real name, Jim Moir, the comedian behind Vic Reeves has sold his acrylic Antony and Cleopatra, above, for £5,400. He also sold 25 limited edition prints of his Bird Colour Wheel, below, for £1,000 each.

And Lycett exhibited a  glazed ceramic called Gary Clam, top picture,  - but it is not for sale.

It is the third time he has been accepted into the exhibition. In 2018 the comic successfully submitted a bust called Chris, made out of clay and a Pringles can – which he put on sale for £12.5million. There we no takers.  

Every year since his artwork has been rejected by the committee – until last year when his painting I Drink A Crisp, Cold Beer In A Pool In Los Angeles While  Gary Lineker Looks On In Disgust was accepted.

Moir previously exhibited at the summer show in 2018, while Hill had a picture of Damien Hirst accepted in 2015 and two works accepted in both 2018, and 2021.

Around 15,000 works are submitted each year,  with more than 1,700 making it into the final show this year.

The Summer Exhibition is on at the Royal Academy in Piccadilly, Central London, until August 20.

Published: 7 Jul 2024