Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist Competition
2025: The results are in and it’s official – Devon’s got talent!
Six young Devon artists, including two twelve-year-olds from Pilton Community College in Barnstaple, have successfully demonstrated their creativity and eye for composition in this year’s Devon Best Young Landscape Artist Competition.
The judges, Devon CPRE’s Director Penny Mills and Exeter-based professional landscape painter Kath Hadden, agreed that the six pictures depicting a variety of Devon landscapes really stood out from the other submissions. Each one tells a different story that is personal to the artist, with one highlighting the current threats to the countryside and farming, and another described by Kath as reminiscent of celebrated British contemporary artist Kurt Jackson in the way the young painter had captured the light on the sea.
In the 7 – 11 year age group, the winner was 9-year-old Arabella Durman from Tiverton with an original perspective of the countryside, seen between a horse’s ears. The two Runners up in this category were 7-year-old Constance Passera from Beaworthy with her drawing of Brentor on Dartmoor, “her all-time favourite place in the world” and 10-year-old Josiah Wort from Bideford who drew a striking oil pastel of another Dartmoor scene, entitled Wild Camp on Dartmoor – Shelstone Tor.
The winner in the 12 – 17 age group was 12-year-old Poppy who attends Pilton Community College. Her painting of the coast at Hartland showed great use of colour. The Runners Up in this category were 17-year-old Jessica Horton from Roborough, whose pen and ink drawing of Firestone Bay in South Devon was very accomplished and 12-year-old Seth, another Pilton pupil, with his watercolour of the North Devon Coast Path featuring a cheeky fox.
The winners will receive £100 each and the Runners Up £25 each. Their work will be available to view for a limited time at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton.
Penny Mills says, “It’s always a delight to open my post in the runup to the competition deadline. Every time we hold this competition, the works submitted are wonderfully varied, both in the choice of landscapes and the media used to depict them. Kath and I were in complete agreement this year over the work that really stood out and resonated with us, so there was no need for our usual lengthy discussions about the winners. Congratulations to them all.”
Kath Hadden wrote a comment for each of the budding artists with her feedback on their work. Kath said, “All three of the 7-11 Category had a strong sense of place and very personal connections to the landscape.”
Kath wrote:
“Many congratulations, Arabella. I loved your drawing – I kept going back to look at it and finding more and more to see. It’s a clever idea to show what you can see between the horse’s ears. You have also created an important narrative, telling the story of British farming.”
“Congratulations, Constance, on a beautiful drawing of Brentor – a lovely composition. I love the church on the hill and the animals.”
“Josiah’s oil pastel piece takes me straight to Dartmoor. I love the way he has drawn the heavy rocks of Shelstone Tor, and the small orange tent tucked in the shelter of the Tor.”
“Poppy’s landscape painting of Hartland in North Devon immediately struck me. An exceptional piece of work showing great use of colour. I particularly love the way Poppy has captured the light on the water, reminiscent of Kurt Jackson. Congratulations, Poppy.”
“Jessica’s pen and watercolour of Firestone Bay captures the area beautifully. Lovely perspective and I particularly love the pebbles in the foreground.”
“Seth’s watercolour of a North Devon Coast Path makes me immediately want to walk through that gate to find out what lies beyond. I love the cheeky fox sitting under the tree, and the contrast between the rugged coastpath and the more managed area within the dry stone wall.”
Congratulations them all – and with thanks to everybody who entered our competition this year.
2025 Competition
The search begins for Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2025. We are on the lookout for budding young artists who can capture the beauty and variety of the county’s natural landscapes, from its wild moorlands to its sheltered river valleys.
Young artists aged 18 and under have until the end of September to submit a painting, drawing, textile, collage or mixed media artwork of a Devon view to win the coveted title of Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2025. The landscape could be a favourite beach or beauty spot, a local park or green space, somewhere visited on a day out or even the artist’s back garden.
There are cash prizes for the winner of each category and the best entries will be exhibited at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton, and we are very grateful to them for this opportunity.
We launched the competition several years ago with the support of Exeter-based landscape artist Kath Hadden, who helps choose the prize winners along with our Director, Penny Mills. The two judges have consistently been impressed with the immense talent of the county’s young artists. They are hoping to receive as many original submissions as they have in previous years depicting Devon’s stunning countryside and coastline.
Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills says, “Kath and I really enjoy looking through all the artwork, and we are always amazed by the talent of the children and teenagers who enter. We love their depictions of Devon’s coast and countryside, and we look forward to seeing what 2025 will bring. No doubt, we will again have our work cut out deciding on this year’s winners.”
The competition is simple to enter with cash prizes for each age category. £100 for the winner in each age category. £25 runner up prizes. There are two entry categories – one for teenagers (aged 12-18) and one for younger children (age 7-11).
To enter, simply post us your entry which must be A3 or A4 size, with your name, age and contact details on the back (preferrably please include an email address and telephone number) and post to us at Devon CPRE, PO Box 26, Beaworthy, EX21 5XN. (If you would like your painting returned, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope (for the right postage please! – We regret we cannot post everybody’s paintings back to them unless the postage is provided!). The closing date for submissions is Saturday 27th September 2025.
Good luck!
Some previous winning paintings:
2023 Results:
A teenager from Chudleigh, who depicted the charming view from his window by using an unusual technique of applying burn marks to wood, is the winner of the Over 12s category of this year’s Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist competition. 15-year-old Jay Fennell’s original pyrography made a lasting impression on the judges – our Director Penny Mills and Devon landscape artist Kath Hadden.
There were joint runners up in this category: 17-year-old Rosie Holgate from Honiton with a beautiful mixed media scene inspired by the beautiful Devon hills around her home, and 16-year-old Angelie Pickett from Ugborough – one of last year’s winners – who painted Canada geese on Filham Lake in the South Hams.
The younger category had joint winners: 10-year-old Ava Baxter from Yeoford – who had won highly commended last year – who painted Soar Mill Cove and 9-year-old Isla Bedwell from Membury with her mixed media artwork of a sunset seen from her garden. 10-year-old Bodhi Muizz Waldstadt from Newton St Cyres was awarded a Runner Up prize for an accomplished painting of the coast at Saunton Sands in north Devon.
Jay Fennell was astonished to have won one of the top prizes of £100. He said, “I was amazed. I can’t believe it. I got a pyrography set for Christmas last year, and this is only about the third picture I’ve created with it. I decided to enter the competition after my grandma showed me a newspaper article about it. I thought twice about submitting this piece because it wasn’t a painting but I’m really glad I did now.“
Commenting on the results, Penny said, “This year, it was lovely to receive such a variety of different media. All the artwork submitted showed a deep appreciation of Devon’s wonderful landscapes and countryside. We are very grateful to Kath Hadden once again for helping to choose the winners.”
Painter Kath Hadden, commenting on the work produced by the young artists, said, “Congratulations to Jay. We were immediately drawn to this piece, a fascinating view depicted in a very original way with great skill.”
“Rosie’s collage of the Devon hills showed great imagination and creative use of different materials. Well done, Rosie. I particularly liked the detail of the little ladybird at the bottom.”
“Angelie Pickett’s is a very accomplished piece showing technical skills beyond her years. Not an easy subject matter but she has done a great job.”
Of the Under 12s, Kath said, “It was very difficult to choose between these two so we had joint winners. I loved the looseness of Ava’s depiction of Soar Mill Cove. A tricky composition tackled with confidence and a lovely colour palette. Isla’s view of her garden at sunset is a very peaceful painting, a great use of mixed media. Well done, Isla.”
The winning works of art are being displayed at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton from 23rd October – 3rd November. Congratulations to them all and thank you to everybody who entered the competition.
2023 results at a glance:
Older category 12 – 18 years
Winner Jay Fennell, 15 years from Chudleigh: Pyrography on wood
‘View from my window in Chudleigh’
Joint runners up: Rosie Holgate, 17 years from Honiton: Mixed media inspired by the beautiful Devon hills around her home
and
Angelie Pickett, 16 years from Ugborough: Painting of Filham Lake, South Hams
Younger category 7 – 11 years
Joint winners: Ava Baxter, 10 years from Yeoford: Painting of Soar Mill Cove, Bolt Head, South Hams
and
Isla Bedwell, 9 years from Membury: Mixed media ‘View from My Garden, Stunning
Sunset over Membury, Devon’
Runner up: Bodhi Muizz Waldstadt, 10 years from Newton St Cyres, painting of
Saunton Sands
2023 – The Competition is now open!
The search begins for Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2023. We are on the lookout for budding young artists who can capture the beauty and variety of the county’s natural landscapes, from its wild moorlands to its sheltered river valleys.
Young artists aged 18 and under have until the end of September to submit a painting, drawing, textile, collage or mixed media artwork of a Devon view to win the coveted title of Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2023. The landscape could be a favourite beach or beauty spot, a local park or green space, somewhere visited on a day out or even the artist’s back garden.
There are cash prizes for the winner of each category and the best entries will be exhibited at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton, and we are very grateful to them for this opportunity.
We launched the competition two years ago with the support of Exeter-based landscape artist Kath Hadden, who helps choose the prize winners along with our Director, Penny Mills. The two judges have consistently been impressed with the immense talent of the county’s young artists. They are hoping to receive as many original submissions as they have in previous years depicting Devon’s stunning countryside and coastline.
Last year two Dartmoor scenes were chosen as the winning entries: 15-year-old Angelie Pickett’s accomplished painting of Ugborough stood out in the older age group, and a vibrant painting of Belstone River by 11-year-old Sophia Lopez Clarkson won in the younger age group.
Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills says, “Kath and I really enjoy looking through all the artwork, and we are always amazed by the talent of the children and teenagers who enter. We love their depictions of Devon’s coast and countryside, and we look forward to seeing what 2023 will bring. No doubt, we will again have our work cut out deciding on this year’s winners.”
The competition is simple to enter with cash prizes for each age category. £100 for the winner in each age category. £25 runner up prizes. There are two entry categories – one for teenagers (aged 12-18) and one for younger children (age 7-11).
To enter, simply post us your entry which must be A3 or A4 size, with your name, age and contact details on the back (preferrably please include an email address and telephone number) and post to us at Devon CPRE, PO Box 26, Beaworthy, EX21 5XN. (If you would like your painting returned, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope (for the right postage please! – We regret we cannot post everybody’s paintings back to them unless the postage is provided!). The closing date for submissions is Saturday 30th September 2023.
Good luck!
The results are in for our competition to find Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2022.
Outstanding images of Devon’s coast and countryside show the immense talent of the county’s young artists, say the judges of this year’s competition.
After much deliberation, two Dartmoor scenes were chosen as the winning entrants by the judges which included local landscape painter Kath Hadden.
15-year-old Angelie Pickett’s accomplished painting of Ugborough on the edge of Dartmoor was chosen as the winner in the older age group, and a vibrant painting of Belstone River by 11-year-old Sophia Lopez Clarkson won in the younger age group.
The other entries that impressed the judges were:
Older group
14-year-old Archie Lourens’ drawing of Instow in North Devon, Runnerup
12-year-old Saskia Van Hasselt’s drawing of Sidmouth in East Devon, Highly Commended
Younger group
11-year-old Thomas Kirkwood’s drawing of Hope Cove in South Devon, Joint Runnerup
10-year-old Alex Boswell’s painting of the Exe Estuary, Joint Runnerup
9-year-old Ava Baxter’s painting of Crook point Sands in North Devon, Highly Commended
All the artworks are to be exhibited this year at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton until 27th October.
Commenting on the two winning entries, Exeter-based Kath Hadden said, “Angelie Pickett’s winning painting of Ugborough showed an immense talent for such a young painter. Her technical skill, use of colour and drawing ability was astounding. She is certainly one to watch.
“Sophia’s winning painting of Dartmoor’s Belstone River captured the scene beautifully. A great choice of colour palette and range of textures. A very charming painting and one to be very proud of. It makes me want to take a trip to the moor.”
Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills said, “I was bowled over by the technical skill and detail of Angelie’s painting of Ugbourough. At first glance, I thought it was a photo! It’s always such a pleasure to open Devon CPRE’s mail in the run-up to this annual competition. The variety of Devon scenes and the individual way they are portrayed by young artists is wonderful to see.”
Congratulations to them all.
The search begins for Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2022
Young artists aged 18 and under can now compete for the title of Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist 2022. We held the competition for the first time last year and were really impressed with the quality and quantity of entries from across the county.
Our charity is inviting budding young artists to showcase their creativity by capturing Devon’s unique and precious landscapes in the medium of their choice. There are two entry categories – one for teenagers (aged 12-18) and one for younger children (age 7-11) – with cash prizes for the winners.
Exeter-based landscape artist Kath Hadden will again join our Director Penny Mills to judge the entries. We are hoping to receive as many original pictures and paintings as we did in 2021, when the winners were Christopher Moore with his mixed-media seascape and Matilda Baker with her verdant Dartmoor scene.
Anything goes as far as the choice of landscape is concerned – as long as it’s in Devon. It could be a favourite beach or beauty spot, a local park or green space, somewhere visited on a day out or even the artist’s own garden.
Penny says, “Kath and I thoroughly enjoyed looking through all the artwork last year. Such a lot of effort had gone into the entries and there was some real talent. We had our work cut out judging so many fantastic paintings and drawings, each capturing a uniquely personal perspective of Devon’s coast and countryside. We’re really looking forward to seeing what this year will bring.”
The competition is simple to enter with cash prizes for each age category. £100 for the winner in each age category. £25 runner up prizes. To enter, simply post us your entry which must be A3 or A4 size, with your name, age and contact details on the back and post to us at Devon CPRE, PO Box 26, Beaworthy, EX21 5XN. (If you would like your painting returned, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope (for the right postage please! – We regret we cannot post everybody’s paintings back to them unless the postage is provided!). The deadline for entries is Friday, 30 September 2022.
Results 2021
We are delighted to announce the results of this year’s Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist competition.
A painting by a 10 girl from Dartmoor depicting a vista of Meldon Hill and a mixed-media artwork by a 17 year old from Dawlish portraying a South Devon seascape have won first prize in the two age categories of Devon CPRE’s inaugural Best Young Landscape Artist Competition.
Matilda Baker and Christopher Moore have each won £100 and the prestigious title of ‘Devon’s Best Young Landscape Artist’ 2021.
Exeter-based landscape painter Kath Hadden brought her considerable expertise to the judging process after we rebranded our traditional painting competition for children this year and opened it up to under 18s. Kath helped us select the winning entries from an overwhelming number of submissions from right across the county in a variety of media. Matilda’s painting and Christopher’s work combining paint and collage both stood out because of their composition, originality and clever use of the chosen media.
However, it was a close-run thing and the judges awarded a number of Runner-Up Prizes and a cash prize of £25 each to four other young artists whose work caught their eye. In the younger age category (7-11), nine-year-old Martha Murrin, eleven-year-old Thomasin Manley Frost and ten-year-old Olive Martin were runners-up. In the older age category (12-18 years), the runner-up was sixteen-year-old Claudia Tam and there was a commendation for fourteen-year-old Rosie Brazendale-Sweet .
Commenting on the results, Kath Hadden said, “I thoroughly enjoyed looking through all the artwork. Such a lot of effort had gone into the entries so big congratulations to everyone who sent something in. The youngest category was particularly hard to judge as there were some very strong entries, which showed talent beyond their years. Matilda’s winning entry was a perfectly captured Devon scene, with great attention to detail. Congratulations, Matilda! Thomasin’s screen print of Exmouth beach showed a brilliant use of colour and composition, and Olive’s piece was a familiar scene to anyone who has explored this area of South Devon, beautifully painted in acrylics. Martha’s image of a tree-lined road didn’t have a specific location, but I was impressed by her composition and use of colour.
“In the older age group, Christopher winning piece showed a creative approach in the way he manipulated the paper to create a clever collage, referencing a local legend about The Parson and the Clerk, which I knew nothing about. Claudia’s mixed media piece was a feast for the eyes – there was so much to see in it and I thought it was a brave approach to a tricky composition. I also loved her personal story behind the picture. I thought Rosie’s Devon flag, depicting four small Dartmoor studies with a very limited palette, was highly effective. Congratulations and keep making, drawing and painting everyone!”
Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills added, “The number and variety of entries this year was just amazing. It’s wonderful to see the very personal take on Devon’s landscape and scenery that our young artists brought to their compositions. We’d like to thank all the young artists who entered our competition this year and congratulations to the winners. Throughout the pandemic, we’ve had different opportunities to reconnect with nature and the Great Outdoors and I think this renewed appreciation of the natural beauty that surrounds us in Devon shines through in all our winning entries. I’m already looking forward to next year!”
