{"id":216850,"date":"2025-12-29T20:06:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/216850\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T20:06:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:06:23","slug":"the-astounding-show-stopping-winners-of-wildlife-artist-of-the-year-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/216850\/","title":{"rendered":"The astounding, show-stopping winners of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wildlife Artist of the Year, organised by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation<\/a>, has grown into one of the world\u2019s leading art competitions, bringing together creativity, passion and purpose in support of global conservation. Each artwork is not only a striking celebration of nature but also helps raise vital funds for frontline projects that protect the species we love.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This year showcased exceptional talent, with artists telling urgent stories about our planet\u2019s wildlife and landscapes. From intimate moments to bold statements, every piece reminds us of the beauty we stand to lose and the power of art to inspire change. <\/p>\n

The winners of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025
\nBoys of Lolldaiga\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Julia Cassels\u00a0<\/p>\n

Winner: Elizabeth Hosking Watercolour Award\u00a0<\/p>\n

Medium: watercolour<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cInspired by young elephants playfighting on a dusty dam wall, Julia\u2019s watercolour bursts with energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beloved\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Nicole Kolekov\u00e1<\/p>\n

Overall Winner<\/p>\n

Medium: ceramic\u00a0<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cNicole\u2019s piece depicts a monkey mother unable to let go of her lost child, a heart-wrenching meditation on maternal love, grief and the fragility of life. Created using the rare technique of wood kiln-fired ceramics, it bears the unpredictable marks of fire and ash, echoing the wild essence of the subject itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Waiting on the World to Change\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Matthew Polluck\u00a0<\/p>\n

Overall Runner-Up<\/p>\n

Medium: ink, metallic paint, gold leaf<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cA lone northern white rhino stands in desolation, its shadow missing the iconic horn stolen by human greed. Matthew creates a haunting image of extinction. His minimal palette and use of precious materials lend his work both immediacy and timelessness. His art is a call to action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gentle Little Baza\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Aniruddha Gupte\u00a0<\/p>\n

Winner: Michelle Lee Howk First Time Entrants Award<\/p>\n

\u00a0Medium: watercolour<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cThe black baza, a striking raptor from southern India, is both elusive and ecologically significant. In his delicate watercolour, Aniruddha celebrates the species, working with handmade paper and embracing the unpredictable qualities of the medium.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strike a Pose\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Emma Swift<\/p>\n

Winner: Wings<\/p>\n

Medium: oil<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cThe southern ground hornbill is a bird full of charisma, with its striking plumage, resonant call and proud strut. Emma captures this bold personality with vivid colours and confident brushstrokes.\u201d<\/p>\n

First Dance
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Sarah Jackson\u00a0<\/p>\n

Winner: Into the Blue\u00a0<\/p>\n

Medium: recycled magazines<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cThis picture flows with the rhythm of the sea, celebrating the harmony of marine life. Sarah\u2019s innovative use of collage and ink mirrors the ocean\u2019s currents, transforming discarded material into textured, painterly compositions.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Daily Poaching Rate in Africa \u2013 96 Elephants a Day
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Holly Budge\u00a0<\/p>\n

Winner: Facing Extinction<\/p>\n

Medium: vegetable ivory<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cEvery day, some 96 elephants are killed for ivory in Africa, a statistic that Holly transforms into wearable art. One elephant faces the other direction to symbolise hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Into the Light\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Phillip Allder<\/p>\n

Winner: Animal Behaviour\u00a0<\/p>\n

Medium: oil on canvas<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cFew images are as powerful as a tiger carrying her cub. Phillip contrasts the ferocity of a top predator with the tenderness of motherhood, imbued with just a trace of threat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guazu Falls\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Hazel McNab<\/p>\n

Winner: Earth\u2019s Wild Beauty<\/p>\n

Medium: linocut<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cHazel\u2019s reduction linocut captures the delicate balance between fragility and force, with a slender tree holding its own against a backdrop of roaring water. Hazel layers colour and texture with precision.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Undertaker\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Andrew Pledge\u00a0<\/p>\n

Winner: The Painters Online in Association with The Artist Award<\/p>\n

Medium: oil<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cMarabou storks may not fit traditional ideas of beauty, but Andrew challenges us to see them differently, and to find wonder in unexpected places.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the Compass of the Oceans\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Derek Robertson \u00a0<\/p>\n

Winner: Environmental Artivism\u00a0<\/p>\n

Medium: mixed media<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cOrcas are majestic apex predators, but also indicators of ocean health. Derek\u2019s piece highlights their vulnerability to overfishing, climate change, pollution and plastic waste.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to Crawl While Stuck in the Darkness
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Sunghyun Chun\u00a0<\/p>\n

Winner: Youth Exclusive\u00a0<\/p>\n

Medium: pencil<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cAt just 17, Sunghyun Chun impressed
the judges with his intricate pencil drawing of a snake emerging
from the darkness.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Dazzle of Zebra\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Jonathan Truss\u00a0<\/p>\n

Winner: Abstract World<\/p>\n

Medium: paint<\/p>\n

JUDGES\u2019 COMMENTS: \u201cZebra stripes are nature\u2019s ultimate camouflage, confusing predators by merging into a dizzying pattern. Jonathan captures this spectacle, placing viewers in the position of a lioness confronted with the task of singling out her prey.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Wildlife Artist of the Year, organised by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, has grown into one of the world\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":216851,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[61,60,82,263],"class_list":{"0":"post-216850","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wildlife","8":"tag-ie","9":"tag-ireland","10":"tag-science","11":"tag-wildlife"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}