“Entering Sketch for Survival changed my life. It not only helped support some amazing projects across the world, but opened up countless opportunities for me to work with other conservation projects.”
Sketch for Survival 2025
A global art initiative in aid of conservation.
Be a part of Sketch for Survival by entering our art competition which is open to everyone. Just 100 artworks are selected from all submissions to be included in our Autumn Exhibitions & Fundraising Auction, as well as competing for our Artist awards.
Submissions for 2025 open 1 February – 30 June.
Overview
Sketch for Survival helps to raise vital awareness about species extinction and biodiversity loss while also raising funds for projects around the world.
The competition showcases a range of different art styles and unites the voices of people all around the world in support of conservation. We regularly receive entries from more than 90 countries including China, Ukraine, South Korea, Iran, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia & NZ, Canada, the US, Brazil, Iceland, Dubai, Qatar, Turkey, Tanzania, South Africa and most countries in Europe.
Just 100 artworks are selected for exhibition and auction. These are sold via online auction with a starting bid of £100, with all proceeds supporting our Campaign Fund.
SKETCH FOR SURVIVAL
Competition Summary
Anyone – professional or amateur – can enter (young artists aged 18 and under are invited to enter our Sketch For Survival Junior Competition);
It is free to enter;
Submissions open 1 February – 30 June annually;
Just 100 artworks are selected for exhibition and auction by our expert selection panel, led by Internationally renowned artist Gary Hodges;
All 100 artworks have a starting bid of £100;
ALL proceeds from the auction of Sketch for Survival artworks in November support our Campaign Fund.
There are 3 stages to the competition:
Stage 1 – Enter online between 1 February and 30 June
Please ensure your artwork meets the criteria (see full guidelines) or it will be discounted at the first stage of selection.
Stage 2 – Longlist Announced Midday Thursday 17 July
Our panel will review all entries using the submission form and image provided. If you are longlisted by the selection panel – congratulations – you will be asked to ship the original artwork to Explorer HQ in Norfolk, UK. Full details will be provided at the time. Longlisted artists are guaranteed a spot in either the 100 Exhibition Collection (exhibited & auctioned) OR the Highly Commended collection (sold in support of the charity through various channels).
Stage 3 – Collections Announced Midday Thursday 18 September
During August the panel meet for in-person selection at Explorer HQ – all longlisted artworks and submission forms are reviewed in detail. Final collections are announced on our website and social media.
- The Exhibition collection comprises 100 finalists, as chosen by the panel – these will be exhibited at our Autumn exhibitions (including a venue in central London) before being sold in our online fundraising auction.
- The Highly Commended collection includes all other longlisted artworks – the runners-up will have their artwork offered for sale in aid of our projects in both our pop up shops and our online gallery helping to support our Projects.
Awards:
The 100 finalists in our Exhibition Collection are eligible for our annual awards which include the Leisure Painter’s People’s Choice Award, an award voted for by the public; The Artist Award, chosen by the editorial team of The Artist magazine and the Sketch For Survival 100 Artist of the Year award, selected by our panel. Results will be announced in October/November (dates to be confirmed).
All participants are invited to download a digital Supporter Logo and to submit an image of them with their competition entry for inclusion in our Supporters’ Mosaic which will be displayed during our exhibitions (access to our Supporter Hub is provided when you enter – please look out for the confirmation notification on your screen with details of the Supporter Hub – you do not receive an email).
Please note: no artworks can be returned. Please do not send us your artwork unless we have requested it and you wish to proceed to the second stage of selection and support the charity with your artwork as outlined in these guidelines. Thank you.
SKETCH FOR SURVIVAL
Full Submission Guidelines
Anyone can enter. If you are 18 or younger you are invited to enter Sketch for Survival Junior here.
You can live anywhere in the world.
The competition is open to professional, amateur, hobby and student artists.
It is free to enter.
Submissions open 1 February and close 30 June.
Please read the submission guidelines on this page carefully and follow the steps below:
1.ARTWORK
Complete your artwork taking into account our competition guidelines (pay special attention to SIZE & SUBJECT)
Take a photo of your entry.
Rename the photo with your name. This is VERY IMPORTANT!
Take a photo of you with your artwork (optional) for our Supporters’ Mosaic.
Keep your artwork somewhere safe.
2.COMPLETE SUBMISSION FORM
Click the ENTER link on this page between February and June – this will open a short submission form.
Follow the instructions on the submission form and complete all the fields.
Where it asks for MEDIUM/METHOD please be accurate e.g, ‘painting’, ‘sketch’, ‘mixed media’ or ‘digital’ is not sufficient information – you need to give details so the selection panel can understand how your artwork has been created and with what materials.
You will be asked to attach a good quality JPEG image of your completed artwork to the submission form. It can be up to 5MB in size. The first stage of selection is done online by viewing the image of your artwork so please make sure it is in focus and labelled correctly with your name. A photo taken on your mobile phone should be fine.
PDFS ARE NOT PERMITTED AND WILL NOT BE VIEWED.
Please only complete one form!
3.ENTER
When you press the ENTER button at the bottom of the submission form, look out for a confirmation message to pop up on your screen – this means your entry has been received – thank you. You will not receive an email.
Follow the link provided on the confirmation message to our SUPPORTERS’ HUB – here you can download a suppporters’ logo and share an image of you with your artwork for inclusion in our special supporters’ mosaic.
Check our social media / home page of our website for the longlist announcement on Thursday 17 July (from midday UK time). Check your spam folder in case you’ve received an email notification from us.
You must decide if Sketch for Survival is right for you.
From feedback received over the years, artists tend to get involved because they want to support a cause through their art, and enjoy uniting with other artists from all around the world for a common good. They enjoy learning about the projects supported by the proceeds and regular updates help them to feel connected.
All participants are invited to download an Artist Supporter logo – the link to this is provided when you enter the competition (look out for it – it is on the confirmation message which appears on-screen) .
There are additional benefits for the 100 finalists:
Profile – your artwork will be seen by a wide audience, and exhibited at several venues including a London venue, sharing space with established artists.
Recognition – a chance to win awards. The winner of the Sketch for Survival 100 Artist of the Year will be invited to contribute a piece to the 2026 collection, to be sold on a 50/50 basis. The winner of The Artist Award has a feature about them in the Artist magazine (usually Dec/Jan edition).
Networking -discover / connect with other artists. Grow your network and develop your skills.
Feedback – artists participating in Sketch for Survival previously tell us that, above all, it is an enjoyable and rewarding experience, and that being selected for exhibition boosts their confidence. The Sketch for Survival community is a diverse and very supportive one. Throughout the exhibition period we send updates to our finalists and through our social media, club and newsletters so you can follow project developments and see exactly how the funds raised from the campaign are being used.
100 Finalists – these artworks win the ultimate prize of being exhibited during our Autumn tour. They are framed for exhibition, displayed and sold (unframed) via our online auction. Finalists are eligible for our annual awards and receive a digital Finalists’ logo to display as they wish.
Highly Commended – these are the artworks only narrowly missing out on a place in the 100. These artworks will join us on tour/at events and be displayed (unframed) in our pop-up stores. The artworks will be available to purchase in aid of our projects. Artists receive a digital Highly Commended logo to display as they wish.
All submissions to Sketch for Survival must be original and unframed.
The main objective of Sketch for Survival is to raise awareness about threats to endangered species and their habitats, and to raise funds through artwork sales for frontline projects – please take this into account when you are considering your entry.
Your artwork should feature a threatened species or at-risk wild space.
The submission form will ask you to provide the specific name of the species and its conservation status. You must complete this for your submision to be eligible.
We use the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species, as a guide to which species are considered ‘threatened’.
- Animal/Fungi/Plant
To qualify, the main focus of your artwork should be:
a species, flora or fauna, on the IUCN Red List, in one of the following categories:
Vulnerable (VU)
Endangered (EN)
Critically Endangered (CR)
or Extinct in the Wild (EW)
These global categorisations mean the species faces a high risk of extinction. To check conservation status please visit www.IUCNredlist.org and use the species search.
- Wild Space
We also accept artworks featuring an at risk landscape/seascape (from anywhere in the world) or a threatened species within a landscape.
For example, an ancient woodland, rainforest, a coral reef, mountain range, coastline, wetland, meadow – any wild space threatened by environmental factors such as a global warming/erosion or by human activity such as logging/pollution/farming is acceptable. Please tell us why you have chosen the wild space and the threat it faces (in the Conservation Status section of the submission form).
- Exceptions
If your chosen species has previously been listed in one of the IUCN categories above, and since downgraded, such as the Humpback Whale, then that is acceptable, but you must provide context on your submission form. If you are longlisted you may be asked to provide further details regarding your choice of subject.
If the risk to your chosen species is at a local or regional level (as opposed to global) then that is also acceptable, but please provide information, e.g, species is included on a national Red List such as the RSPB Red List of Birds, or Red List for Britain’s Mammals.
If your chosen species has not been assessed for many years by IUCN but there is clear evidence of decline by another official conservation group/body then this is acceptable but please provide information.
- Selection Notes
Artworks are selected on merit and our panel will discuss longlisted works, looking at overall artistic skill as well as key areas such as composition, accuracy, originality and impact.
You should be aware that the selection panel considers a wide range of factors when making their final decisions including the objectives of the initiative and the balance of the collection as a whole.
The selection panel will not consider graphic/violent content.
If you are using a specific source e.g, an image, please be aware of copyright issues and reference the source. You should seek permission to use the source material.
MEDIUM/METHOD please be accurate when completing the submission form e.g, ‘painting’, ‘sketch’, ‘mixed media’ or ‘digital’ is not sufficient information – you need to give details so the selection panel can understand how your artwork has been created and with what materials.
Size
We accept two dimensional artworks (flat – can be framed) in the following two size categories (landscape or portrait orientation accepted):
A4: Minimum size and visible area – 21 cm by 29.7 cm. Maximum paper size 23cm by 31.7cm.
Your paper size can be anywhere in the range from 21cm – 23cm (short side) by 29.7 cm – 31.7cm (long side).
Please note- anything outisde the visible once will not be seen once mounted/framed in our reusable exhibition frames so please make sure anything important including your signature is within the visible area.
We must be able to MOUNT your chosen surface in our exhibition frames. We have exhibited many different surfaces including wood and metal in the past – 2-3mm thickness is generally fine as long as the work is is not too heavy.
A3:Minimum size and visible area – 29.7cm by 42cm. Maximum paper size 31.7cm by 44cm.
Your paper size can be anywhere in the range from 29.7cm – 31.7cm (short side) by 42cm – 44 cm (long side).
Please note – anything outisde the visible once will not be seen once mounted/framed in our reusable exhibition frames so please make sure anything important including your signature is within the visible area.
We must be able to MOUNT your chosen surface in our exhibition frames. We have exhibited many different surfaces including wood and metal in the past – 2-3mm thickness is generally fine as long as the work is is not too heavy.
Artworks cannot be any smaller or any larger than the dimensions given above. They will not fit in our exhibition frames and will unfortunately have to be discounted from selection.
Medium
We accept 2D artwork (flat – can be framed). We receive artworks in a range of mediums including watercolour, oil, charcoal, graphite, scratchboard, mixed media works and more. Wood, glass, metal sheet, elephant dung paper – as long as the artwork can be framed in our recyclable exhibition frames then we can consider it. Maximum depth for framing is c 2-3mm (depending on weight…).
Please be accurate when describing your MEDIUM/METHOD e.g, ‘painting’, ‘sketch’, ‘mixed media’ or ‘digital’ is not sufficient information – you need to give details so the selection panel can understand exactly how your artwork has been created and with what materials.
- We use reusable exhibition frames to display the 100 finalist’s artworks – this cuts down on plastic and packaging and helps our exhibition display look consistent. The frames protect the artworks during the course of the exhibition tour.
- Having two set sizes gives us a level playing field and allows us to more fairly evaluate the merits of one artwork against another during the selection phase – this would be more difficult to do if we were comparing a huge artwork with a tiny one. Having a range of sizes would also increase the challenges we already face when hanging the exhibition at different venues.
- Our initiative is all about raising awareness about species extinction and habitat loss while raising funds for projects – we champion affordable art – feedback from regular supporters and buyers tells us that A4 and A3 artworks are very desirable as they fit into homes more easily than larger artworks and are more likely to be purchased spontaneously to support a cause.
- Large artworks take considerable time and money for the artist to produce and transport and in turn create a larger carbon footprint for the exhibition tour and auction – since these artworks are donations to a charitable cause we felt the A4 to A3 size range was most appropriate.
Digital art is accepted, however please be prepared to describe your method on the submission form and to show proof of workflow if longlisted (via screenshots, or Instagram story or similar).
Digital work should be printed on good quality art paper at the correct size/resolution and signed.
AI artwork is not accepted.
Canvas works and box frames are not accepted.
Artworks should comply to our size guidelines. We must be able to frame your work in our recyclable exhibition frames as outlined – exhibition frames protect the work during their time with us and help us to display the collection for everyone to enjoy.
One work per artist.
We are accepting submissions until midnight GMT 30th June.
To enter, please complete our online submission form.
Please do not send your artwork to us – the first stage of selection is done online.
Longlisted artists will be announced Thursday 17 July. Successful artists will be contacted by email and given full instructions on where to send their artworks for the next stage of the selection process.
We welcome the support of schools and colleges.
Individual pupils/students aged 18 and under should enter our Sketch For Survival Junior Competition.
For details about how to enter work from multiple pupils/students, please visit our Schools Page.
After the submission deadline, all entries are reviewed for eligibility (size/subject) using the submission form.
The artwork images are then assessed by a panel of leading artists led by Gary Hodges, the UK’s best selling and most collectable wildlife pencil artist. He has been a judge for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year Awards since 2008 and has won numerous awards in his own right. Guest judges include Mark Adlington, Sophie Green, Alison Nicholls and Sevina Yates.
The panel is joined by Sara White and Robert Ferguson, founding trustees of Explorers Against Extinction.
The panel assess many different elements including artistic skill, originality, creativity, accuracy, overall composition, impact and commercial appeal. When agreeing on the 100, they also consider the overall balance of the collection.
Your submission form is also considered.
You may find the Sketch for Survival archive at the bottom of the page a useful tool before deciding what to submit. The archive will give you some indication of the standard.
The 100 Sketch For Survival Finalists will have their artworks auctioned in our online auction concluding in 23 November 2025. Starting bids are £100.
The Highly Commended Collection will be available for sale at pop-up stores and events and in our online gallery throughout the autum and winter. Prices for Highly Commended unframed artworks generally range from £75 – £300 depending on the size and artwork/artist. Unsold Highly Commended artworks may also be offered for sale the following Spring (via an online auction).
All 100 Sketch for Survival competition artworks have a starting bid of £100, giving a Project Fund starting pot of £10,000 and a level playing field for bidding activity to start. Artworks are sold unframed/unmounted to keep shipping costs manageable.
Sketch for Survival began in 2017 as an affordable arts initiative. We started off auctioning 26 minute sketches from artists and celebrity supporters to highlight elephant poaching in Africa. At the time, one elephant was being poached every 26 minutes on average. Starting bids were kept intentionally low to encourage people to bid for an original artwork to support a cause.
Over the years the artworks have become more sophisticated and starting bids have increased to reflect this. It is important to remember that the starting bid is not intended to be a true reflection of value.
Most bidding activity takes place in the final week, and even the final day. We do all we can to promote the exhibition and auction and showcase the art to insure there is plenty of bidding activity and a good audience for our contributing artists – you can help too, by sharing the exhibition with your network, particularly in the final week.
There is, of course, some jeopardy involved with an auction format – you never know what’s going to happen!
We provide access to our archive, so you can review previous collections and auctions. It is a good idea to think carefully about the commercial appeal of your artwork, as well as its all-important conservation message before you begin.
There are three awards:
Sketch for Survival 100 Artist of the Year
The panel will agree a shortlist from all 100 finalists. The winner receives an engraved trophy and an invitation to join our On the Brink collection in the following year (artwork sold on a 50/50 basis).
The Leisure Painter’s Sketch for Survival People’s Choice Award
This award is chosen by the public, through an online vote featuring all 100 finalists. It goes to the artwork with the most votes. The winner receives an engraved trophy and a digital magazine subscription.
The Artist Award
The winner is chosen by the editorial team of The Artist Magazine from all 100 finalists and is awarded to the artist who in their opinion best captures the spirit of the Sketch for Survival initiative in a two dimensional drawing or painting of any medium. The winning artist will be featured in The Artist in December 2025, and receive a complimentary one year digital subscription to the magazine and an engraved trophy.
We do not cover the cost of postage.
No artworks are returned.
Longlisted pieces sent to Explorer HQ in Norfolk will be included in either the Exhibition Collection (100 places) or The Highly Commended Collection – all pieces will be sold by us with the funds raised supporting our projects.
For the 2025 competition:
Submissions open: 1 February – 30 June
Longlist announced: Thursday 17 July
Finalists announced: Thursday 18 September
Shortlist announced: TBC
Peoples’ Choice vote opens: TBC
Fundraising auction concludes: Sunday 23 November 2025
You are welcome to share your work on social media and other channels during the submission phase, before selection takes place and during the selection and exhibition phases. Sharing is beneficial to the competition so we encourage you to do this. We kindly request that you do take the following points into account however:
- Please be clear on what stage of the competition you are at – during the submission phase before 30 June you can be entered or about to enter; from 17 July you can be longlisted (if you are not in the longlist then your competition ends); from 18 September you can be a 100Finalist (in the exhibition/auction) OR Highly Commended (not in the exhibition/auction but your artwork has been commended by the judges and it will be sold in support of our Project Fund). We provide Sketch for Survival logos at all three stages – please do use these.
- If you have used source material, please make sure you have permission and give due credit.
- Please use the hashtag #sketchforsurvival and you may like to tag @explorersagainstextinction (Facebook/Instagram) @RealAfrica (X). Links to the competition are provided in our bio and on the home page of our website.
Thank you and good luck.
Sketch For Survival 2025: Terms and Conditions:
- The competition is open to artists worldwide, except for employees of the Real World Conservation Trust (RWCT), their immediate families, agents, or anyone else associated with administration of this competition.
- Closing date for receipt of entries is midnight GMT on 30 June.
- To enter, complete the online submission form by the closing date. Do not post/mail your artwork to us.
- Artists selected by the judges will be contacted by 17 July with details of how to send/mail their artworks to us for the second round of judging. Failure to forward the original artwork to us will result in elimination from the competition.
- The 100 Finalists and Highly Commended Collection will be announced on Thursday 18 September.
- The shortlists for the Artist of the Year award will be announced by 9 October at the latest.
- The winning artists will be announced by 23 November at the latest.
- The RWCT has the right to publish all entries on its website explorersagainstextinction.co.uk and selected ones on its Social Media channels or for press/promotion of the campaign and RWCT.
- RWCT has the right to publish an image of selected artworks in merchandise such as calendar or cards to sell and raise funds for the charity in association with the Sketch for Survival campaign. Artworks will not be reproduced elsewhere without the consent of the artist who retains all rights.
- The RWCT will offer for sale or auction the artwork of the 100 Finalists and the Highly Commended Collection, through its gallery, online gallery and online auction. All receipts for the art will go to the Explorers Against Extinction Campaign Fund, supporting education and frontline conservation.
- Entries limited to one per artist.
- Email addresses will only be used by RWCT for updates on the competition in their newsletter which can be opted out of. They will not be disclosed to any other parties.
- The judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
- The winner agrees to participate in any reasonable publicity required by the RWCT.
Promoter: The Real World Conservation Trust. UK Charity 1177505. Registered Address: Happisburgh, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 0QQ
Sketch for Survival Artist Award
Sponsored by
Sketch for Survival Peoples Choice Award
Sponsored by
SFS 2024 Finalists: Carrie Le; Naomi Jenkin; Julie Brunn; Katie Mai Quinn; Roland Brass (from top left to right)