Will Alexander McQueen feature on the new £20 note?

26^th May 2015

Rebekah Absalom

Rebekah Absalom

26 May 2015

The late designer, Alexander McQueen, could be set to feature on Britain’s new £20 note.

The Bank of England has asked the British public to nominate “people of historic significance” from the world of visual arts, to be immortalised on the £20 note. This process will be the first to consult the public, with school visits and focus groups led by the Bank’s chief cashier, Victoria Cleland, beginning shortly.

“Banknotes are the principal way the Bank of England engages with the public,” the governor of the organisation, Mark Carney, said. “These sparse pieces of paper from the 17th century have developed over the years to become the small works of art that are in everyone’s wallets. There are a wealth of individuals within the field of visual arts whose work shaped British thought, innovation, leadership, values and society and who continue to inspire people today.”

Raised in the east end of London, McQueen was appointed chief designer at Givenchy, before founding his own self-titled label; later receiving a CBE from the Queen, for his contribution to fashion. Today, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, at the Victoria & Albert Museum, remains the lead exhibition.

While Ladbrokes has named artist William Hogarth and filmmaker Richard Attenborough as early joint favourites at 4-1 each, McQueen is not far behind at 8-1. The printing of the new currency, due to take place in 2020, would mark 10 years since the British designer’s death.

Rebekah Absalom

Nominations can be submitted via the Bank of England website.