The Society of Wildlife Artists

The Natural Eye 2025 | Award Winners

Many congratulations to the award winning artists at the Society of Wildlife Artists 62nd Annual Exhibition, The Natural Eye 2025. The Society is enormously grateful to all the sponsors who generously support our exhibition.

The Birdwatch and Swarovski Optik Artist of the Year Award

Kim Atkinson was thrilled to be given this award for her monotype. She will receive a prize of a Swarovski ATS 80 HD spotting scope with 25–50x zoom eyepiece (with a value of £2,430) plus subscription to BirdGuides/​Birdwatch magazine.

The BIRDscapes Gallery 'Conservation Through Art' Award

The Conservation Through Art Award, sponsored by BIRDscapes Gallery, acknowledges an artist’s efforts in using their art to help conserve the natural world. The award also directly benefits conservation, as the prize money of £1,000 is shared equally between the winning artist and a conservation organisation or project of their choice.

The long term project to restore what was arable farmland 10 years ago, to an expansive wildlife-rich grass heath at Massingham in Norfolk, has been a significant focus for many of the Society's members this year, and any one of the participating artists could have been considered a candidate for this award.

For her role at the helm of the team of members and supporters who brought this enormous artistic endeavour to fruition, the Award goes to Harriet Mead and her sculpture Chain Corncrake.

Liz and Steve Harris, BIRDscapes Gallery

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 to Brin Edwards for his painting of Stonechat and Gorse by Fiona, Nigel, Rhian & Simon. Value £500.

British Trust for Ornithology Award

A new prize of £500 for the best work in the show that celebrates the wonder of birds, awarded to Liz Myhill for her depiction of the energy and activity of seabird colony.

RSPB Award

An award of £500 for an evocative work depicting birds.

The Swarovski Optik New Artist Award

£250 for the best work in the show by an emerging artist. 

Trymwood Studios Art Prize

Robert Greenhalf receives this prize for his body of work

Robert will receive the exciting opportunity of a retrospective 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.

The Michael Harding Oil Painting Prize

This generous prize of £500 of oil paints was awarded to Andrew Stock for his painting A chattering of Choughs.

The Michael Harding Watercolour Painting Prize

£500 of Michael Harding watercolour paints awarded to David Bennett for his Otter family hunting Perch.

Art Safari Works on Paper Award

The Art Safari prize for works on paper goes to an artist who enjoys all the colours and textures of nature, maintaining a sense of peace and calm. Thank you to Nye Hughes for his ‘Rock formations with Auks, Isle of May’ in the Firth of Forth, a sanctuary so well painted here and much loved by artists

Art Safari

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.

Mall Galleries / FBA Award

Lee Putman received the prize of 10 free submissions to any exhibitions by the Federation of British Artists at Mall Galleries (worth up to £200) for a non-member exhibitor.

Dry Red Press Award

Emma Faull’s painting, Evening Swallows, will be reproduced on a greetings card.

All works can be viewed at The Natural Eye, Mall Galleries in London until Saturday 25 October 5pm. To view and browse online visit Mall Galleries.