Entries for the 2024 competition have now closed.
DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year (WAY) is an internationally renowned wildlife art competition and exhibition. Each year it attracts entries from some of the most talented artists around the globe, who come together to celebrate the beauty of the natural world.
Since its inception in 2008, DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year has raised just under £2 million to benefit our conservation work across Africa and Asia.
The exhibition showcases a breathtaking selection of shortlisted artworks commended by our expert judging panel and portraying a variety of techniques and mediums; from recycled plastic sculptures and intricate pencil drawings to vast colourful oil paintings, and everything in between.
We have gratefully received everyone’s artwork and are looking forward to bringing in our expert panel of judges to decide which pieces will make the final and exhibit at Mall Galleries.
Our 2024 competition attracted 1,297 entrants from 801 artists across 46 countries. We were delighted to receive a record-breaking number of first-time entrants, and the depth and breadth of work submitted was truly exceptional. Our 2024 competition has now closed for entries.
Corporate sponsors of our WAY competition enjoy incredible opportunities to join us on our exclusive awards evening, putting you not just at the heart of the competition – but at the heart of the capital in bustling London, optimising your brand reach. This exceptional showcase of international artistic talent presents an attractive proposition for corporate partners.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities for WAY, please contact the team at dswf@davidshepherd.org. Discover more about this year’s sponsors, below.
Following record-breaking visitor numbers in 2023, the weeklong finalists exhibition will return to the Mall Galleries, London, from Monday 1 July (private awards ceremony) to Saturday 6 July 2024, as well as the DSWF website, in a culmination and celebration of wildlife art and its role in conservation.
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The competition and exhibition has become one of the most noteworthy events in the art calendar, often being referred to as the ‘Oscars of international wildlife art.’ Playing an integral role in helping to maintain the ‘Art of Survival’ legacy of our founder, David Shepherd CBE, Wildlife Artist of the Year utilises the power of art to celebrate wildlife, create awareness, and raise funds for endangered species across Africa and Asia.
With entry income and 50% of the proceeds from all artwork sales supporting DSWF and our partners in the field, DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year highlights how we can use art to create something powerful and ignite the conversation about conservation.
“I set up my Foundation with the sole purpose of giving something back to the animals that helped me achieve success as an artist. At a time when the world’s wildlife is under such devastating pressure from expanding human populations and the illegal trade it seems fitting that we take a step back and reflect on the sheer beauty and diversity of our natural world and what could be lost if we do not truly appreciate the value of the world around us.”
Our 2023 finalists exhibition included a stunning collection of 156 artworks of varying mediums and expressions created by an incredible 133 separate artists. Through the generosity and support from our sponsors, all participating artists and our wonderful buyers and donors, together we raised a staggering £106,000 contribution to support our vital conservation work across Africa and Asia.
Full details of the DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year 2023 winners can be found below, with more information available on our winners blog post.
Our Wildlife Artist of the Year 2023 Catalogue featuring all shortlisted artworks and artists from the 2023 event is still for sale in our online shop.
DSWF thanks you for your interest in entering our annual wildlife art competition, DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year 2024. This internationally renowned competition encourages artists to use the natural world as a source of inspiration for a piece of art, and in doing so raise vital awareness for some of the most pressing environmental issues our planet faces.
50% of the proceeds from the sale of artworks will help us to fund our vital conservation work. DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year has so far generated almost £2 million to help support our ground-based conservation partners across Africa and Asia.
Click here for the full FAQ’s.
Please enter by completing the Online Entry Form.
If you are unable to enter online we do accept postal entries. Please download the Postal Entry Form here or contact us on way@davidshepherd.org or 01483 272323 and we will send you a form.
Please help us by entering as early as you can in advance of the closing date.
The entry fee is £25 per an artwork for the first two entries, thereafter it is £15 per entry. (There is no limit on the number of entries, but the online form will take a maximum of ten entries in one submission). Entries to the Youth Exclusive (15 – 19 years) category cost £15 per entry.
Important note. Please submit all the artworks you are entering at the same time if you wish to qualify for the discounted entry fee. If you wish to enter more than ten artworks, please enter your first ten via the online form and then contact us at way@davidshepherd.org and we will help you with any additional entries.
Entries will open from 12:00pm GMT on the 8 January 2024 and run until 11:59pm on the 11 March 2024.
Whether you are a long-term participant, an established artist, or an avid amateur, DSWF encourages you to create a work to celebrate nature. Entries to the DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year 2024 competition are open to artists over the age of 15 years on the closing date of the competition (11 March 2024). Artists aged between 15 -19 years at the closing date will be entered into the Youth Exclusive category.
All artists shortlisted by our expert judging panel are invited to exhibit and sell their artworks as part of our annual exhibition which will be held at the Mall Galleries, London, and also online on the DSWF website, running from Monday 1 July to Saturday 6 July 2024.
Prizes include £10,000 for the overall winner (including a £5,000 conservation donation to a DSWF project of the winner’s choice), £2,000 for the runner-up (including a £1,000 conservation donation to a DSWF project of the winner’s choice) and category prizes of £500 each.
Please carefully read the Terms and Conditions before entering the competition as they include important information about eligibility and the entry, judging and exhibition processes. Please use our FAQs for guidance. If you have any further questions about your entry which is not covered by the FAQs, please email the DSWF team at way@davidshepherd.org.
2024 Sponsors
FAQ’s
Terms and Conditions
