JMW Turner £20 note

The Bank of England’s polymer £20 note was first issued in February 2020. On the back is the artist Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851), who is famous for his expressive use of light and colour. Turner’s image is based on his own self-portrait from 1799. He appears alongside his famous painting, The Fighting Temeraire.

Several details of this banknote are security features that help prevent counterfeiting. One of the see-through windows is inspired by the fountains outside the National Gallery, where The Fighting Temeraire is on show.

The other see-through window shows two buildings in Margate in Kent, where Turner spent much of his time, also appear: Margate Lighthouse in gold foil, and the Turner Contemporary art gallery in blue.