Young artists from Warrington and surrounding areas are invited to showcase their creativity as Warrington & Vale Royal College announces the launch of its 2026 Young Artist of the Year competition.
Open to Year 10 and 11 students, the competition provides an exciting opportunity for aspiring creatives to present their work and gain recognition for their artistic talent. Entrants will compete for the chance to win up to £65 worth of professional artist equipment, supporting their creative development and future ambitions.
The 2026 competition will once again recognise excellence across two categories: Creative and Digital, celebrating a broad range of artistic approaches. Submissions are welcomed across a variety of mediums, including fine art, digital art, photography, sculpture, textiles and mixed media.
All entries will be showcased in a dedicated exhibition at the college’s Warrington campus, giving entrants the chance to see their work displayed in a professional setting and to share the experience with family, friends and teachers. The exhibition will conclude with an awards ceremony, where winners will be announced by a judging panel made up of the college’s expert tutors and Director of Curriculum, Ben Brady.
The Young Artist of the Year competition has become an established and well‑loved event at Warrington & Vale Royal College, reflecting its ongoing commitment to nurturing young creative talent across the region. The college continues to support students aspiring to careers in the creative and digital industries through specialist technical courses, taught in its recently-launched Advanced Creative & Digital Skills (ACDS) Academy.
Students wishing to enter the competition must submit their artwork alongside a short artist’s statement by Friday 27th February 2026.
- Physical entries should be delivered to the Warrington campus reception and clearly labelled with the student’s name, school, year group, contact details and chosen category.
- Digital entries must be uploaded via the college website as high‑resolution JPEG, TIFF or PDF files.
This competition offers young artists a valuable platform to showcase their creativity, gain confidence and take their first steps towards a future in the creative industries.
For full competition details and entry information, please visit: wvr.ac.uk/young-artist
