The Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize Chester continues to champion creativity and artistic excellence among secondary school students across the region.

The 2025 art Prize brought together a vibrant showcase of student artwork, exhibited in the historic surroundings of Chester Cathedral, and drew over 2,000 public votes both online and at the exhibition. 

Two exceptional winners were selected: 

• Judges' Prize Winner: "Mushrooms" by Charlotte Owens 

Charlotte was awarded £800, and the school received £2,000. 

• Public Vote Winner: "A Leopard in the Wild" by Issy Wilson 

Issy was awarded £400, and the school received £1,000. 

All shortlisted students exhibited their work in Chester Cathedral, gaining public recognition and celebrating the importance of art in education.  

Students were encouraged to auction their work, and as a result a total of £1,280 was raised. 50% of the proceeds of the sale price were paid to the individual students, the other 50% was donated to Chester Visual Arts, the art Prize's charity partner.  

SAF donation to Chester Visual Arts (Image supplied)

Chester Visual Arts is a registered charity committed to developing a vibrant visual arts culture in the region, supporting both emerging and established artists, and engaging the community through exhibitions and educational programmes. 

Miss Huxley and Miss Heaword from the winner's school, County High School in Leftwich expressed pride in their students' achievements at the SAF Awards.

They described the experience as rewarding and emphasised the importance of the arts in education for fostering creativity, confidence, and self-expression.

"The success of our shortlisted students serves as a powerful source of inspiration for younger pupils, reinforcing the value and impact of artistic achievement within our school community", they said.

"We are delighted to celebrate this incredible moment with our students and the entire school."

The Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize Chester 2026  

The 2026 competition launches on the 3rd November 2025. The entry region has expanded beyond Chester and Cheshire West and now includes Wrexham, and Flintshire, opening the opportunity to even more young artists to display their talent. 

Prize Details 

The 2026 competition will increase to 30 finalists and have their artwork publicly exhibited in Chester Cathedral in April 2026. 

Two winners will be chosen - one by a panel of expert judges and one by public votes. 

The winner of the Judge's Prize will be awarded £800 and £2000 for their school. The winner of the Public Vote will be awarded £400 and £1000 for their school.  

How to Enter 

All secondary schools in Chester, Cheshire West, Wrexham, and Flintshire are invited to nominate up to ten students each. Nominated students may submit one piece of artwork. 

For full entry details, terms and conditions, and submission guidelines, please visit the SAF website. 

Entry Period: 

• 3rd November 2025 – 20th February 2026 

With the 2026 competition opening and the region expanded, SAF looks forward to discovering even more outstanding student artists and continuing its mission to inspire, support, and celebrate creativity.