Art competition shines a spotlight on future talent

Launched in 2024 to an overwhelming national response – highlighting the appetite for opportunities of this kind – Solent's art and photography competition has returned, receiving 300 submissions. These submissions represent the breadth of talent currently studying in further education across the south, including in Devon, Somerset, Hampshire, Sussex, London and Kent.

Course Leader Photography, Nina Sverdvik, says:

“We are so excited to run this competition again, highlighting the incredible creative talent found locally, both in the city and neighbouring regions. When Course Leader Fine Art, Nic Chamberlain, and I launched this competition last year we were worried no one would apply. Well, last year 200 students proved us wrong and this year we received 300 individual entries from 55 colleges!

“What is so exciting is that these artists are so keen to share their creative vision, and the quality of the submitted entries just blew us away. We hope that this experience of exhibiting their work in public will give them the confidence to pursue a career in the creative industries, as this is such an exciting and rewarding career choice. Hopefully this is the first step of an incredible journey in the creative arts.”

To select winning entries, Solent once again joined forces with ‘a space arts’ – an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation which has championed the visual arts in Southampton for 25 years – landing on submissions which represent five different colleges and mediums that range from painting to photography.

At a special showing on Tuesday 18 March in Southampton’s Guildhall Square, the winners and highly commended were announced in front of friends, family and members of the region’s art community. Daniel Crow, Chief Executive of ‘a space’ arts, says:

“It has been an honour to select works again this year, which was a difficult process from such a wide selection of great work. We feel encouraged to see that the artists of tomorrow are so talented and making work that reflects today’s society.

“I’m sure their practice-led education at Solent University will develop their skills and prepare them for the exciting creative careers they have ahead of them.”

First prize went to a painting done by a 17-year-old Southampton College student; imbued with emotion, this work demonstrates impressive technical skill and blew judges away. Second and third prize went to photography submissions from students at St Vincent Sixth Form College in Gosport and The College of Richard Collyer in Horsham respectively.

Students from Reading College and Barton Peveril Sixth Form College were highly commended and included a vivid mixed-media piece alongside thought-provoking photography.

The winning works are now on display in an exhibition housed in shipping containers on Guildhall Square, before second year (BA) Hons Fine Art students takeover the space to exhibit their own creations.

Find out more about Solent’s art and design degrees here.