Wildlife Artist of the Year, organised by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, has grown into one of the world’s 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.
This year showcased exceptional talent, with artists telling urgent stories about our planet’s 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.
The winners of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025
Boys of Lolldaiga
Julia Cassels
Winner: Elizabeth Hosking Watercolour Award
Medium: watercolour
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Inspired by young elephants playfighting on a dusty dam wall, Julia’s watercolour bursts with energy.”
Beloved
Nicole Koleková
Overall Winner
Medium: ceramic
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Nicole’s 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.”
Waiting on the World to Change
Matthew Polluck
Overall Runner-Up
Medium: ink, metallic paint, gold leaf
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “A 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.”
Gentle Little Baza
Aniruddha Gupte
Winner: Michelle Lee Howk First Time Entrants Award
Medium: watercolour
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “The 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.”
Strike a Pose
Emma Swift
Winner: Wings
Medium: oil
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “The 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.”
First Dance
Sarah Jackson
Winner: Into the Blue
Medium: recycled magazines
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “This picture flows with the rhythm of the sea, celebrating the harmony of marine life. Sarah’s innovative use of collage and ink mirrors the ocean’s currents, transforming discarded material into textured, painterly compositions.”
The Daily Poaching Rate in Africa – 96 Elephants a Day
Holly Budge
Winner: Facing Extinction
Medium: vegetable ivory
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Every 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.”
Into the Light
Phillip Allder
Winner: Animal Behaviour
Medium: oil on canvas
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Few 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.”
Guazu Falls
Hazel McNab
Winner: Earth’s Wild Beauty
Medium: linocut
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Hazel’s 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.”
The Undertaker
Andrew Pledge
Winner: The Painters Online in Association with The Artist Award
Medium: oil
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Marabou storks may not fit traditional ideas of beauty, but Andrew challenges us to see them differently, and to find wonder in unexpected places.”
In the Compass of the Oceans
Derek Robertson
Winner: Environmental Artivism
Medium: mixed media
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Orcas are majestic apex predators, but also indicators of ocean health. Derek’s piece highlights their vulnerability to overfishing, climate change, pollution and plastic waste.”
How to Crawl While Stuck in the Darkness
Sunghyun Chun
Winner: Youth Exclusive
Medium: pencil
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “At just 17, Sunghyun Chun impressed
the judges with his intricate pencil drawing of a snake emerging
from the darkness.”
A Dazzle of Zebra
Jonathan Truss
Winner: Abstract World
Medium: paint
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Zebra stripes are nature’s 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.”