Mammal Illustrator of the Year 2025: Extraordinary Perspectives

Welcome to Mammal Illustrator of the Year 2025! This is our first year hosting an art competition alongside our photography competition. This year, we're hoping to host an exclusive exhibition of both photographs and artwork in April, which will be open to all members of the public. By entering, you could be in for a chance to have your artwork displayed, as well as to win some fantastic prizes (to be announced).

This year, our theme is: British Mammals: Extraordinary Perspectives. Mammals are a class with great diversity in appearances, behaviours, and ecology, yet they are often portrayed in the same way. This year, to start our first ever Mammal Illustrator of the Year competition, we’re looking for extraordinary perspectives on British mammals; we want art that is new, exciting, and unusual. This could include art that is abstract or innovative; art that displays unusual behaviours or connections between mammals, the natural world, and us; or art that uses different 2D mediums or methods to explore your connection with mammals. We’re looking forwards to your unique perspectives of our beloved British mammals – and remember, anything extraordinary is welcome!

We are taking submissions for the Mammal Illustrator of the Year 2025 from October 1st 2024 until January 31st 2025. Voting will begin once submissions close, including public voting. Please carefully read the below rules and terms and conditions before submitting artwork.

Rules:

• You can enter up to 5 photographs or scans of individual artworks, each up to 10MB in JPEG format. These should be in the highest quality possible.
• Your art must be in a 2D visual format. This cannot include sculpture, clay, resin, or other 3D works. This can include: pencil, charcoal, pastel, ink, chalk, watercolour, oils, acrylic, gouache, 2D collage, mixed media, printmaking, screenprinting, digital art, pixel art, and more.
• You cannot submit photographs, unless part of a collage or mixed piece. There must be a clear art element added to the photograph to be eligible. The photograph must also be an original work which you have taken. To submit standalone photographs, enter our Mammal Photographer of the Year competition here.
• You must be 18+ to enter this competition. If you are under 18, please see here for our Young Mammal Illustrator of the Year 2025.
• At least one wild mammal from the British Isles must be depicted within any artwork submitted.
• Use of AI in any part of any artwork is not allowed.
• Tracing, copying, or submitting other artwork that you are not the original owner of is not allowed. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright of all artwork entered. The Mammal Society does not accept any liability for the publication of unlawfully reproduced images. 

Terms and Conditions:

• All artwork must be your own original work. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright of all artwork entered. The Mammal Society does not accept any liability for the publication of unlawfully reproduced artwork. 
• We reserve the right not to accept entries where the judges have concerns that the artwork used AI, was not the original work of the owner, or otherwise broke the rules.
• By entering your artwork, you agree to grant the Mammal Society the non-exclusive right to publish, feature, reproduce and use it for any purpose related to the competition, such as website blogs, press releases, social media announcements, and our potential upcoming exhibition.
• By entering your artwork, you agree that if it is selected for our exhibition in 2025, you will be contactable at the email address given to discuss exhibiting and selling your prints.
• Prizes are as stated; no alternative can be offered. Reasonable efforts will be made to contact winners. Prizes unclaimed within a reasonable time frame will be reallocated. The judges’ decision is final. The competition may be modified or withdrawn at any time. 
• In the event of a prize being withdrawn, an alternative prize of equal value will be offered. 
• The Mammal Society reserves the right to change or cancel plans to exhibit illustrations and will keep shortlisted artists informed.