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| The Winner of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025 Nicole Kolekova "Beloved" |
The annual exhibition of the Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025 at the Mall Galleries had the most frightful luck this year.
- on the first four days there was a tube strike - which realistically meant the only visitors were those on trains into Charing Cross or Victoria or those who could get there by bus or bike.
- then on the Saturday, two marches (one of them absolutely enormous) were very close to The Mall - one of them being kettled on Whitehall.
There was no way I was going to go into town to see the exhibition because I'd have had to cross the route of at least one if not both marches. Plus I always make a point of never ever going into town on big march days as you never know how it might "kick off".
So by way of recompense to the artists, this is my post about those who won their categories and who was Highly Commended.
- You can SEE all the images of the Winners on the website.
- Click to see the Gallery of the Highly Commended
- Scroll down to see all the other entries
SEE ALSO my previous post Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025 - now online
Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025
The Overall Winner of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation's 2025 Wildlife Artist of the Year is Nicole Kolekova for her piece "Beloved".
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| Winner of the Wildlife Artist of the Year Award 2025 Beloved a clay sculpture by Nicole Koleko |
The most powerful love is maternal love and it would be difficult to find in nature a symbol as strong as a monkey mother who loves her child so much, that she cannot accept the reality long after her loss...As a child, I watched a documentary about a group of monkeys living happily in a city. One day, the group was attacked by a rival family of monkeys. The attack was loud and full of bites, but it didn’t last long. Both groups scattered and disappeared. The battlefield was silent, except for a small body lying in the middle. Motionless, in the middle of a stone path, its face turned to the ground. It was a painful sight, but you often saw it in documentaries, often children died. Suddenly, a mother ran to her, started wailing, and took her child in her arms. Then the narrator spoke: “Mother monkeys feel such great love for their young that they cannot accept the loss of them, even after their death. They hug their dead child for weeks after death and carry it with them and take care of it...”This moment was so powerful for me that it lives in my thoughts to this day and touches me…
The David Shepherd website says this about the work
This year’s overall prize went to Slovakian artist Nicole Koleková for her ceramic sculpture Beloved. The 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 in the natural world. Created using the rare technique of wood kiln-fired ceramics, each sculpture bears the unpredictable marks of fire and ash, echoing the wild essence of the subject itself. Nicole’s work, rooted in raw emotion and technical mastery, moved judges and audiences alike.
Runner Up
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| RUNNER UP Waiting on the World to Change Matthew Polluk |
London-based artist and wildlife fan Matthew Polluk was the overall runner-up.
From an exceptional field of entries, we are thrilled to announce the Overall Runner-Up for Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025.
Congratulations to Matthew Polluk for a work that stood out for its impact, artistry, and resonance.
The David Shepherd website characterised Matthew Polluk as follows
Matthew Polluk is self taught artist who has carried his childhood passion for animals and the natural world into the fervent creation of wildlife art that he is recognised for today. He holds a strong passion for giving back to the natural world that inspires his art and uses his art to raise awareness for wildlife conservation. His paintings are often characterised by his use of a minimal colour palette - typically black, white and gold - and his use of metallic paints and precious materials, such as 24ct pure gold leaf, has become a trademark feature in his wildlife art.
Category and Special Award Winners
Links in the names of the prizewinners are to their websites or Instagram sites.The text comes from this webpage celebrating the award winners where you can see large images of their artwork
Michelle Lee Howk First Time Entrants Award
- Gentle Little Baza by Aniruddha Gupte
The Black Baza, a striking raptor from southern India, is both elusive and ecologically significant. In his delicate watercolour, Mumbai-based artist Aniruddha Gupte celebrates this bio-indicator species, working with handmade paper and embracing the unpredictable qualities of the medium. A designer by training, Aniruddha only began painting wildlife in 2021, but his sensitivity and skill have already made a mark.
Elizabeth Hosking Watercolour Award
- Boys of Lolldaiga by Julia Cassels
Inspired by young elephants play-fighting on a dusty dam wall, Julia Cassels’ watercolour bursts with energy and movement. Having spent many years in Africa before returning to the UK, Julia’s art is alive with the sounds, scents, and rhythms of the wild. Her work not only captures wildlife but also raises awareness for conservation, connecting audiences to the places and creatures she loves most.
The Painters Online Award
- The Undertaker by Andrew Pledge
Marabou storks may not fit traditional ideas of beauty, but Andrew Pledge challenges us to see them differently. In The Undertaker, he celebrates their adaptability and ecological importance, reminding us that even “unattractive” species play vital roles. Andrew’s award-winning work focuses on overlooked birds, encouraging us to find wonder in unexpected places.
Youth Exclusive
- How to Crawl While Stuck in the Darkness by Sunghyun Chun
At just 17 years old, South Korean student Sunghyun Chun impressed judges with his intricate pencil drawing of a snake emerging from darkness. A newcomer to art, he was initially inspired by manga, and Sunghyun is now pursuing his dream of studying at an art college in England. His work demonstrates how new generations are embracing wildlife art with originality and dedication.
Wings
- Strike a Pose by Emma Swift
The Southern Ground Hornbill is a bird full of charisma, with its striking plumage, resonant call, and proud strut across African grasslands. Emma Swift’s oil painting captures this bold personality with vivid colours and confident brushstrokes. An award-winning artist, Emma has been shortlisted for Wildlife Artist of the Year seven times. Her work underscores the interconnectedness of wildlife and environment, reminding us that every species has a role to play.
Into the Blue
- First Dance by Sarah Jackson
Made from recycled magazines, First Dance flows with the rhythm of the sea, celebrating the harmony of marine life. Sarah Jackson’s innovative use of collage and ink mirrors the ocean’s currents, transforming discarded material into textured, painterly compositions. Growing up on the Cornish coast, Sarah’s practice is deeply rooted in sustainability, proving that beauty and renewal can emerge from the everyday.
You''ll also find her work via Google in several art galleries.
Facing Extinction
- 96 Elephants a Day – The Daily Poaching Rate in Africa by Holly Budge
Every day, an estimated 96 elephants are killed for ivory in Africa. Holly Budge transforms this devastating statistic into wearable art: a necklace made from vegetable ivory, with one elephant turned in the opposite direction to symbolise hope. As founder of the NGO How Many Elephants and World Female Ranger Week, Holly combines adventure, activism, and design to amplify conservation causes. Her work has been praised by Sir David Attenborough for its ingenuity and impact.
Environmental Artivism
- In the Compass of the Oceans by Derek Robertson
Orcas are majestic apex predators, but also indicators of ocean health. Derek Robertson’s mixed-media piece highlights their vulnerability to overfishing, climate change, pollution, and plastic waste. With a career spanning 35 years, Derek is internationally recognised, with works held in collections from the Tate Gallery to the Royal Family. His art often bridges science and storytelling, collaborating with conservationists to bring urgent ecological narratives to life.
Earth’s Wild Beauty
- Iguazu Falls by Hazel McNab
Standing between Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls is one of the natural world’s most awe-inspiring sights. Hazel McNab’s linocut captures the delicate balance between fragility and force, with a slender tree holding its own against a backdrop of roaring water. Working in reduction linocut, Hazel layers colour and texture with precision, producing scenes infused with both movement and stillness. Her Cornish-based practice often celebrates coastal landscapes, but here she expands her gaze to a global wonder.
Animal Behaviour
- Into the Light by Phillip Allder
Few images are as powerful as a tiger carrying her cub. In Into the Light, Phillip Allder contrasts the ferocity of a top predator with the tenderness of motherhood, imbued with just a trace of threat. Based in the Lake District, Phillip is a wildlife and landscape artist whose career spans exhibitions in the UK and USA. His evocative style has earned him regular recognition in Wildlife Artist of the Year.
Abstract World
- A Dazzle of Zebra by Jonathan Truss (insecure website which takes a LONG time to open)
Zebra stripes are nature’s ultimate camouflage, confusing predators by merging into a dizzying pattern of black and white. Jonathan Truss captures this dazzling spectacle in his painting, placing viewers in the position of a lioness confronted with the impossible task of singling out her prey. A professional wildlife painter for 30 years, Jonathan has exhibited internationally and led art safaris across continents. His ability to blend science and spectacle continues to inspire.
You can find previous blog posts about the Wildlife Artist of the Year under this label in my Archive Wildlife Artist of the Year
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