A JERSEY artist has won a prestigious award which will see their work displayed at a solo exhibition in London.

Dr Adam Perchard described winning the Hogarth Art Prize as feeling like “being struck by the nicest fork of lightning in the world”.

They received the national award after being shortlisted from around 1,500 entries. Two of Dr Perchard’s works English Ships and Leviathan – are currently on display at Hogarth’s House in Chiswick, London.

The prize includes £3,000 and a solo exhibition at Hogarth’s House next spring.

“It was a complete bolt from the blue – almost literally,” Dr Perchard said. “Electrifying and shocking and wonderful.

“I’d daydreamed about how incredible it would be to win – but in the same way that people dream about winning the lottery. I never really thought for a moment that it would happen.”

Pictured: Jersey artist Dr Adam Perchard said winning the Hogarth Art Prize felt like “being struck by the nicest fork of lightning in the world.”

Dr Perchard said the prospect of their first solo exhibition in London had made the achievement feel even more exciting.

“I think being an artist in any artform requires a lot of dogged determination,” they said.

“You have to try and harden your skin and keep going; keep trudging on through the rain and telling yourself that you really do have something to offer.

“Right now, it feels like the rain has cleared and I can work in the sunshine for a bit. I feel free and supported – nervous, of course, about pulling off my first solo art show – but incredibly exhilarated.

Pictured: Dr Adam Perchard’s English Ships and Leviathan, the two works exhibited at Hogarth’s House after being shortlisted from around 1,500 entries.

“The road ahead feels full of wonderful possibilities.”

The award carries special significance because of Dr Perchard’s long admiration for William Hogarth.

“What I hadn’t realised before the prize-giving is that Hogarth was a self-taught artist just like me,” they said.

Looking ahead to the exhibition, Dr Perchard hopes to create new work inspired directly by Hogarth.

Despite receiving national recognition, Dr Perchard said they remained deeply connected to Jersey.

“Scribbling away in my tumble-down shed at the bottom of the garden, it had never occurred to me that my little works might represent the Island,” they said. “The thought of it fills me with huge pride.”

Pictured: Dr Adam Perchard’s winning piece, Leviathan references the frontispiece of Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan.

They added that the Island’s arts community had played a vital role in their development as an artist.

“I can’t imagine what my work would be like if it hadn’t been nurtured and supported by Jersey’s amazing arts scene,” they said. “We are a small island full of big opportunities for artists.”