Ten-year-old Haslemere-based artist Olek Pilat-Khazanbeik, Leatherhead teenager Stella Dart and Nancy Priston from Molesey have today been named the winners of a prestigious art competition voted for by local people.  Almost 750 people took part in the online vote, part of Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Wild Surrey Art and Photography Competition.

Olek’s painting of a “Happy Hedgehog” (6-12 category), Stella’s digital depiction of an “Owl Alone” (13-17 category) and Nancy’s intimate photograph depicting “A Private Moment” in the life of a pair of kestrels (over-18 category) illustrate the beauty and diversity of Surrey’s wildlife, which is under intense pressure due to human activity and needs protecting more than ever. Nancy also received a Highly Commended Award for her amusing photograph “Look at Me Mum” of a baby moorhen performing a star jump!

Olek says: “I would like to thank everyone who voted for me; it still doesn't seem real that I actually won the People's Choice Award. It's going to give me a huge confidence boost and make we want to become an even better artist. By choosing to submit a painting of a hedgehog, I wanted to spread the knowledge that these cute animals are disappearing quickly and we should all do something to protect them.”

Fighting foxes, disappearing turtle doves and a parliament of owls were among stunning images of Surrey’s wildlife showcased at the Lightbox Woking when the Surrey Wildlife Trust announced the first winners of the contest - judged by professional artists - in May.

Around 400 local amateur and professional artists and photographers aged 6 and above entered the Wild Surrey Competition.  A longlist of over 130 works was selected for an online exhibition with a further 50 being the exhibition, supported by STIHL. The exhibition highlighted the diversity of species in Surrey from Damselflies to birds of prey, to vast meadows to inspirational Surrey Hill landscapes, and all the works can now be seen online.

The over-18 winner of the art category, judged by Surrey artist Grace Ellen, was Guildford’s Jane Habgood with her painting of a hedgehog “Autumn Hog”. Jane says “I chose the hedgehog as I foster them for Hydestile Resident Animals, a charity based near Godalming. I am always surprised and saddened as to how many young people have never seen a hedgehog…I feel that we all have a responsibility to take care of our environment as are invading natures space.”

The over-18 winner of the photography category, judged by award-winning photographer Jon Hawkins, is Mike Tibbots of West Byfleet, with “Fighting Foxes” an incredible image of two red fox vixens fighting over territory.

In addition to winning a People’s Choice award for “Owl Alone”, Stella Dart was also the winner of the young adult art category with “A Parliament of Owls”, also digitally depicting barn owls. “I have always loved wildlife and owls in particular. I really love both the film and the series of books by Kathryn Lasky called 'The Guardians of Ga'Hoole’. When we moved house a year ago I was delighted to find we had owls living in the trees across the road, I hear them at night and (would) imagine what they are up to… I also love a musician 'Owl City' and I listen to his music while I am working on my artwork as it helps to create the atmosphere in my pictures” says Stella.

The young adult winner of the photograph category is Ben Hancock-Smith, who lives in Guildford, with “Roebuck in the Morning”. Ben also won a highly commended prize for his “Owl at Sunset” photograph.

The children’s category winner of the art category is Freddie Claret, also from Guildford, for his beautiful painting of two Otters “Otterley Devoted”.  Freddie says: “I chose to paint otters as they are beautiful creatures. They are also an endangered species in the UK due to pollution and destruction of their habitat. I wanted to commemorate their return to the Surrey countryside. I have loved art for years and joined an art club called Canvassing Happiness when I was six, where I learnt to paint in acrylics. I am now an art scholar at Belmont school. I was so happy to be chosen as a winner of the Surrey Wildlife Art competition.”

The children’s category winner of the photography category is Maise Hayman from Fleet, for “Seasonal Snail”.

The Vision for Surrey award (supported by Surrey Nature Partnership) was awarded to Susy Jones for a thought-provoking mixed media work of an ornithologist and endangered turtle dove. Suzy, who lives in Epsom, says "I'm thrilled that "Don't let me disappear" won the award because I want to shine a light on the plight of the turtle dove, a once much more common breeding bird in our countryside, now sadly dwindling and fading away…"Don't let me disappear" juxtaposes a picture of hope and dedication for this iconic species, with stark imagery of persecuted turtle doves scattering against a blood-spattered sky. Media clippings on the story of this species form a sobering backdrop. An ornithologist, having fitted the radio tracker to this little bird, silently wishes it a safe journey and life free of persecution and peril, and wonders if it will end up returning to this same field next spring."