The over 18 winner of the art category is Charlotte Baker from Woking, artist and art tutor with a fine art degree from the University of Creative Arts, with Midnight Prince. “Foxes are really mischievous creatures but I think they are so majestic. I wanted to capture that royalty in this piece. I’m really overwhelmed to win.”
The over 18 winner of the photography category is Matthew Nunn, Farnham, with Swan, Frensham Pond. “I went for a walk around Frensham Ponds and grabbed my camera as I wanted to capture the drip shot. I set the shutter to freeze the drip and was absolutely thrilled that I got exactly what I wanted. Winning the competition has inspired me to go forward with my photography - all thanks to Surrey Wildlife Trust.”
The under 18 winner of the art category is Isabelle Saunders, age 13, a pupil from Manor House School with Bluebell Badger. “I love bluebells and badgers and I painted them from my imagination. I used acrylic paints because I like the way the colours merge together. But I was surprised to win because I didn’t even realise there would be winners. But I’m so pleased because I’ve loved art since I was little.”
The under 18 winner of the photography category is Caitlin Ruddock with Butterfly Crossing.
Highly commended
Tawny Owl, Shannon Van Lier (highly commended, art, over 18)
Inquisitive Brock, Alan Seymour (highly commended, photography, over 18)
Bee Aware, Alicia Manrique (highly commended, art, under 18)
Morning Has Broken, Amanda Cook (highly commended, photography, over 18)
Thoughtful things, Alexandra Oldham (highly commended, art, over 18)
Striding Out, Paula Boyd Barrett ( highly commended, art, over 18)
Round Leaved Sundew, Katie Bree Art (highly commended, art, over 18)
The Elusive Kingfisher, Emma Bloomfield (highly commended, art, over 18)
Scaly Sojourner, Ash Morgan (highly commended, art, under 18)
The Conservation Pond, Ashtead, Imogen Hartridge (highly commended, art, over 18)
The Incredible Insect, Margarita Harff (highly commended, art, under 18)
My Stag Hill, Lisa Benson (highly commended, art, over 18)
The People’s Choice award under 18’s goes to Woodland Fox by Rachel Brickhill, who was awarded a camera kindly donated by Canon. The Over 18s People’s Choice goes to Thoughtful Things by Alexandra Oldham, who was awarded vouchers for an adult learning course.
The exhibition of 80 works is beautiful and evocative and will inspire an appreciation for the amazing beauty of Surrey’s wildlife, whilst also stirring a deep concern for its vulnerability and future.
Located near the top of the High Street, the exhibition is free entry and open to all to come and celebrate Surrey’s amazing nature inspired artworks between 10am and 4.45pm every day until June 16th. This year Wild Surrey is sponsored by Chessington World of Adventures Resort’s Chessington Conservation Fund.