“Inspired and inspiring. Heartfelt thanks to all the creatives who generously offer their time and talent to make this competition such a successful event helping many important conservation projects. Each year it just gets better and better!”
2025 Shortlist
Sketch for Survival 100 Artist of the Year
We are delighted to reveal the Sketch for Survival 100 Artist of the Year shortlist. Just ten artists have been hand-picked by head judge Gary Hodges, each recognised for their exceptional talent.
Shortlisted artists will be invited to contribute to our 10th Anniversary ‘On the Brink’ Collection in 2026, with works sold on a 50/50 basis in support of Explorers Against Extinction (participation optional – invitations issued in January).
The winner of the Sketch for Survival 100 Artist of the Year will be publicly announced at the Private View on 19 November at Oxo Gallery, London*. They receive an engraved trophy.
If the winner is able to attend the event in person, they will also be offered an overnight stay in the capital followed by brunch and a gallery tour next morning with trustees Rob Ferguson and Sara White. Travel to/from London not included.
Wild and Free by France Bauduin
"It was very important for me to draw this leopard in its natural habitat and capture its fierce expression for the message I wanted to convey 'Wild and Free' as it looks directly at the viewer. The natural background is there to complement this wild animal, not to detract from it so I deliberately kept it fuzzy. The darker top helps to bring the leopard forward, enhancing its keen expression. As our eyes flow down its muscular legs, we can still appreciate its powerful paws as they emerge from the front row of fuzzy grasses. This drawing is an important reminder of what leopards and wild cats in general look like in the wild and why it is so important to protect them and their habitat."
Colour pencils with a bit of PanPastels on Pastelmat paper
"This beautifully executed painting is one of two halves, France Baulduin shows us both the boldness of a leopard and just how camouflaged they can be, melting into their environment. And as for the tail!" Gary Hodges
Serenity by Julie Brunn
"Lycaon pictus better known as the African Wild Dog has long been a favourite subject of mine. I strive to capture their beauty and vulnerability through oil paints, whilst embracing their noble strength. This painting is a fitting moment as the alpha female gazes over the horizon beyond her beloved pack. "
Oil
"As ever, Julie Brunn manages to give us a portrait full of life and expression with just a minimal amount of her inspired brush strokes. What a proud, majestic looking wild dog she created!" Gary Hodges
More Than I Can Chew by Karen Stevens
"I have been fascinated by elephants since I was a child and had the most amazing experience seeing them in the flesh when I visited Kruger National Park in 2016. I drew this piece over the past year in my spare time between working full time and personal commitments. The immense power and gentleness of these mammals fills me with awe and I really wanted to capture the nature of the dexterity of their trunk after watching this elephant pulling a sapling out of the ground and swinging it around before chewing on the branches. I was amazed by the vocabulary they have and the strong family bonds they build within herds, this strengthened my passion to want to create elephants within my artwork and contribute towards conservation of all species that are persecuted by humans."
Coloured Pencil
"With just a limited palette and an unusual composition, Karen Stevens has created something quite recognisable and lifelike but also veering towards abstract. " Gary Hodges
Wisdom by Klara Bujtor
"I'm beginner wildlife artist. I've started in this year. First time I enter this competition.I picked a lion portrait for my artwork,because they are my favourite animal and I would like to help big cats and other animals with my art in the future."
Scratchboard
"Majestic and bold, this scratchboard artwork by Klara Bujtor, matches its subject . And as for those eyes... they tell a thousand stories." Gary Hodges
Two's Company by Laura-Jayne Smith
"I chose this image of the giraffes as I love the connection between them. I wanted to draw the viewer into this moment and show the gentleness of the pair. Giraffes also fascinate me, after being up close to one their size and stature is incredible. They are so unique I wanted to draw attention to their beauty and quirkiness. "
Watercolour
"With lovely loose strokes, Laura Jayne Smith has captured the bond between these two creatures. The uncomplicated blue background compliments the caramel tones in the giraffe's patterned hide to give a very pleasing result." Gary Hodges
Embracing Hope by Linda Lunnon
"Embracing Hope captures a tender moment between a mother koala and her joey, a symbol of resilience and the quiet strength found in nature. As the joey peeks out from the safety of its mother’s arms, it reflects the fragile promise of a new generation, one that holds the potential to restore and protect a species under threat. With koala populations facing increasing pressures from habitat loss, climate change, and disease, this piece is both a celebration of life and a call to action. Through this intimate portrayal, I hope to remind viewers that every birth is a spark of hope, and that the future of these iconic animals depends on the choices we make today."
Scratchboard
"Every single scrape of the black board is perfectly executed with a superb technical quality by master scratchboard artist, Linda Lunnon. Both the artist and the mother Koala offer us pure love and a feeling of life." Gary Hodges
Ukoo by Margaret-Veldman Jones
"Ukoo is a white rhino orphan who arrived at the Zululand Rhino Orphanage when he was just 6 weeks old. Ukoo’s mum was poached and he was found near to her body by rangers. The name Ukoo is short for Ukuthula which means ‘peace’ in Zulu. Now 2 years old he is currently being weaned with other older babies and will spend another year or 2 in the orphanage before he’ll get released back into the wild. I love this image of Ukoo, which I was kindly allowed to use as reference material by the charity Helping Rhinos. Rhino calves represent the future of their species and to see him growing up so proud and confident after such a bad start in life, shines a light on the importance of the work so many crucial charities do. I purposefully painted him in vibrant colours to reflect his youth and playful nature."
Mixed Media
"Full of character, colour, fun and a huge dollop of imagination, this arresting artwork by Margaret Veldman-Jones screamed to be in the SFS 'chosen ones'. " Gary Hodges
World Of Chaos by Polly Hosp
"African elephants are running out of the wild space they need to migrate and move. Reserves are fenced, human populations grow ever larger, and cases of conflict are increasing. In a climate-changed future, the survival of the elephant is uncertain."
Original Drypoint Print with coloured tissue paper
"Steeped in design and confidence of the marks made, this fabulous print by Polly Hosp tells a clear story of a love for Africa and the iconic elephant. " Gary Hodges
Kibibi by Sarah Lake
"Kibibi is a West African chimpanzee showing off one of the many facial expressions they make. They are Highly intelligent and sadly critically endangered. Hopefully this piece is a quiet reminder of their presence and personality, and how much we have to learn from them."
Hand Cut Paper
"It is astounding how glueing tiny pieces of paper together can create such an artwork full of life. Sarah Lake shows us yet again how to do it perfectly. She simply had to be in the SFS top ten." Gary Hodges
Peak by Vesela Sultanova
"From the lowlands to the peaks, our home is suffering. We don't know how bad of tenants we are, but we can at least try to be better by looking back and comparing ourselves to our past selves. Everything in the world is interconnected. This is how the balance in nature is maintained. I proceed from the idea that man is a part of nature, not its master. However, humans also have the capacity to understand what self-awareness is and to consciously participate in maintaining balance in nature."
Graphie, Graphite pencil, Paper
"While so many artists choose to paint or draw every hair, Vesela Sultanova offers us a very different, sensitive use of the pencil with her moody and muted study of a snow leopard. It has been created with great skill and imagination. " Gary Hodges
Congratulations to all the shortlisted artists.
Results will be announced at the private view at Oxo Gallery on Wednesday November 19th, and shared online shortly after.