BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2011: The winners revealed

This year’s BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year competition attracted more than 1,000 entries from around the world – the highest number we’ve ever received.

The wonderful array of beautiful and thought-provoking art depicted species ranging from stick insects to great white sharks – and it was a challenge to whittle them down.

Nearly 100 images were short-listed for the final judging. On the big day, the judges – editor Sophie Stafford, artists Pip McGarry, Chris Rose and Jamie Boots, and art-book publisher Ian Langford – faced a daunting task choosing between the fabulous variety of styles and media, from acrylic and oil to tin and wood, on show.

The spectacular winners, runners-up and commended pictures shown here are a magnificent display of the best art inspired by the natural world.