We’re pleased to confirm that your payment has been successful and will directly support the Foundation’s vital work to protect and save endangered species. Every contribution makes a difference.
We will be in touch by email by the end of June to let you know whether your artwork has been selected for the exhibition finals.
DSWF Team
See here for full FAQ’s
Upon completion and submission of your entry form with the associated payment you will receive an automatic email confirming safe receipt. If after 48 hours you have still not received this, please contact [email protected] or call our office on 01483 272323.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept any changes to submitted pieces once an entry has been received. However, if you are aware that you have made an error on your entry form (e.g. listing the wrong dimensions), please email [email protected] as soon as possible and we will look into this for you.
Yes, but only if you are a shortlisted finalist and your piece is selected by the judges to take part in the annual exhibition. In this case there will be additional costs for shipping your piece to and, if unsold, from the Mall Galleries, London.
No, the entry fee is not refundable in normal circumstances. We may refund the amount to you if there is an error in the transaction that prevents you from submitting your piece or results in your submission being made more than once. If this is the case, please call our office on 01483 272 323 or email us at [email protected].
Shortlisted artists will be asked to complete an Artist Agreement that provides DSWF with detailed information on the artist and the artwork for exhibition, and collects information for sales promotion and artist payment purposes. Artists will be provided with detailed requirements regarding the exhibition logistics including delivery and hanging.
The DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year 2026 Exhibition will be held at the Mall Galleries, London SW1 between Tuesday 8 September – Saturday 12 September 2026.
There will also be an online exhibition, where WAY 2026 finalist work can be viewed and purchased remotely. The online exhibition will open on 27 August 2026 and close on Saturday 12 September 2026.
The judges will choose an overall competition winner, an overall competition runner up, and a winner of each category. In addition to this there are various other prizes including the First Time Entrants Prize and The Artist Editor’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award is voted for by the public during the exhibition period. There are also Highly Commended and Luminaries Choice Awards for each category, which are highly regarded but do not come with prize purses.
Every artist who has taken part in WAY 2026 will be advised after the second round of judging has taken place, in mid-June 2026, as to whether or not they have been shortlisted and selected for exhibition. This information will be sent via email to the email address provided on your entry form. Please ensure that your email address is correct when entering.
Those who are unfortunately not shortlisted will also be informed by email at the same time.
The winners of the competition will be selected by our expert judging panel from the shortlisted finalists of the competition and therefore can only be selected from artworks that are physically in the exhibition at the Mall Galleries. The overall winner, category and award winners will be judged in person at the Mall Galleries after hanging and before the exhibition opens. Winners will be announced in the WAY 2026 Awards Ceremony which will be on 8 September 2026. This will also be available to watch online and will then be shared via social media.
“I set up my foundation with the sole purpose of giving something back to the animals that helped me achieve success as an artist.” – David Shepherd
