Society of Wildlife Artists 2026 | Award Winners
/ Society of Wildlife Artists
Congratulations to the award winning artists at the Society of Wildlife Artists 63rd Annual Exhibition: The Natural Eye 2026.
The Birdwatch and Swarovski Optik Artist of the Year Award
A prize of an ATS 80 HD spotting scope with 25-50x zoom eyepiece (with a value of £2,430), plus subscription to BirdGuides/Birdwatch
Winner: John Threlfall SWLA, Independence day - Common Sandpiper chick
The BIRDscapes Gallery 'Conservation through Art' Award
£1,000 divided equally between the winning artist and a conservation organisation or project of their choice
Winner: Marco Brodde SWLA, The living tree
'Among the hundreds of wonderful artworks in this year's exhibition, one in particular immediately stood out for its unequivocal conservation message. For many years, landowners and foresters equated manicured tidiness with looking after the countryside. One particularly damaging aspect of this misunderstanding was the clearing up of dead wood. The winning picture clearly shows the importance of leaving dead wood in situ, sustaining the cycle of life in a woodland. The decaying, windthrown tree and associated leaf litter are depicted supporting birds, tungi, plants and insects. So, this year's BIRDscapes Gallery Conservation Through Art Award for his drypoint print, The living tree, goes to Marco Brodde.' - Birdscapes Gallery
British Trust for Ornithology Award
£500 for the best work in the show that celebrates the wonder of birds
Winner: Federico Gemma SWLA, Common Snipe
Daler-Rowney Award
£500 of art materials from Daler-Rowney for an outstanding work
Winner: Ben Woodhams SWLA
Ben Woodhams is exhibiting five works at The Natural Eye 2026, including the exhibition catalogue cover Shelducks and Hoodies feeding in the seaweed, Nexø Sydstrand, Bornholm.
The Head & Heart Award
Over time, the natural world has become more absorbing, astonishing and important to us. It’s a place apart from the noise of daily life and somewhere to reflect and recharge. So we give this award to the artist whose work most reflects these feelings and thoughts, moving our hearts and our heads, and allowing us to see the familiar in a fresh and unfamiliar way. Presented by Fiona, Nigel, Rhian & Simon. Value £500.
Winner: Sherrie York, Rainy days and Mondays
The Michael Harding Oil Painting Prize
£500 of art materials
Winner: Jane Gardiner, The Rain Beetle
The Michael Harding Watercolour Painting Prize
£500 of art materials
RSPB Award
£500
Winner: Darren Woodhead SWLA, Puffin pair exchanging nest material
Art Safari Works on Paper Award
Art Safari offers a prize to artists working on paper in any media, showing an artist’s engagement with wildlife and the environment. Encouraging artists to experience the natural wonders of the world since 1999, Art Safari offers painting holidays and workshops worldwide. Value £250.
Winner: Szabolcs Kokay SWLA, Eurasian Scops Owl field sketch
The Swarovski Optik New Artist Award
£250 for the best work in the show by an emerging artist
Winner: Dan Bright, Stonechat and St. Mark's Flies
Mall Galleries / FBA Award
Ten free submissions to exhibitions by the Federation of British Artists at Mall Galleries (worth up to £220) for a non-member exhibitor
Winner: Rosanne Guille, Our changing food chain (Sark Octopus fisherman)
Trymwood Studios Art Prize
The winner will receive the exciting opportunity of a solo exhibition at Trymwood Studios, Bristol. The prize intends to identify and celebrate artists that engage with the natural world, producing work informed by a significant drawing element, during or after sustained periods of fieldwork.
Winner: Sandra Fernandez
Sandra Fernandez is exhibiting two works, Gannets and Guillemots (Field sketch, St Abbs Head) and Guillemots (Field sketch, St Abbs Head).
Dry Red Press Award
The winning work reproduced as a greetings card
Winner: Brad Kenny, Soft flow
Browse and Buy
These award winning works are available to browse and buy, alongside many more works at The Natural Eye 2026.
