Art Competition

Winner: Yara, aged 6, British International School of Timisoara

Title: The Tree of Endless Worlds

Description: Inspired by Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree, this artwork explores imagination through magical lands of chaos, calm, dreams, and discovery. Each layer reflects how curiosity and creativity grow as we explore the worlds within and beyond ourselves.

Judges' comments: "This tree captures the spirit of hidden worlds and imagination. It is carefully made using a variety of materials."

Runner up: Olivia, aged 6, BEK PREP (Korea)

Title: The Night of the Whispering Forest

Description: My artwork shows what the world might look like to a tree in a quiet forest at night. The tree enjoys a peaceful time under the stars, surrounded by animal and tree friends. I wanted to imagine and express the calm beauty of the world through the tree’s eyes.

Judges' comments: "Lovely use of different effects. The cut out paper creates layers that add depth. Changing textures, using rubbings and paints creates a joyful and mischievous feel to the piece." 

Winner: Eva, aged 9, British International School of Timisoara (Romania)

Title:  When Nature Reflects The Robot

Description: A mixed-media artwork combining natural and artificial materials to show the balance between nature and AI. The tree-like face reflects humanity’s growth from the natural world into technology, expressing hope for harmony between the two.

Judges' comments: "Skilful use of blended colour in the background creates depth as the background  for the faces of nature, with textures of flowers and trees. This contrasts with the softer, tonal depiction of AI."

Runner-up: Valeriia, aged 12, British International School Ukraine

Title: The Long-Awaited Miracle

Description: This gouache painting portrays a tender moment between a mother and her newborn, seen through the lens of deep love and serenity. The artwork invites the viewer to feel warmth, peace, and the quiet miracle of
new life.

Judges' comments: "There is such a tender expression of love in this picture. The light shines behind the child but the focus is on the mothers face gazing on the child. The simple use of colour contrast keeps attention on the 2 figures."

Winner: Iarina, aged 12, British International School of Timisoara (Romania)

Title: The Last Reflection of Peace

Description: This acrylic painting uses a fish-eye perspective and blended primary colours to depict the purity of childhood amid war. The reflected bomber symbolises fear and loss, contrasting innocence with destruction, and highlighting a child’s longing for peace in a broken world.

Judges' comments: "The strong use of opaque paint to show the child gazing into the reflected world contrasts successfully with the softer more blended effect suggesting 2 realities."

Runner-up: Maria, aged 14, Nadeen School (Bahrain)

Title: The Soldier

Description: This piece is created acrylic on canvas board It is A4 in scale. When someone views my piece I want them to feel how lonely and tired the soldier is while he’s writing the letter. I want them to imagine what it’s like to be in his place and feel the emotions of what he carries.

Judges' comments: "The use of grey tones creates another 'world' feeling, and the dark tunnel a void. The effect is atmospheric and create empathy with the soldier."

Winner: Da Hye, aged 16, North London Collegiate School Jeju (South Korea)

Title: See me

Description: Often our perception of others leads to them feeling fractured and crushed by judgment, signified through the oppressive hands and pressure and cracks on the face. Our fragility, symbolised by the egg, speaks to the audience- see me as you would yourself.

Judges' comments: "This is a very high standard of painting , the tonal shadow creates a realistic portrait, combined with the use of colour and contrasting with the menace of grey hands creates an atmosphere of pressure."

Runner-up: Wendy, aged 15, Marlborough College Malaysia

Title: Treasure

Description: This artwork depicts a woman searching through a dumpster, symbolising how one person’s trash can be another’s treasure. It explores differing perceptions of value, showing resilience, creativity, and the beauty found in overlooked or discarded things.

Judges' comments: "This moving portrayal of poverty uses rough brushstrokes which blur the lines between the woman and the bin. This is a very moving image."

Winner: Tekla, aged 17, British-Georgian Academy

Title: Unseen by the World

Description: Oil on canvas (55×60 cm). A tragic portrayal of innocent children whose lives were shattered by war. Through their eyes, I reveal pain, loss, and the fragile hope that survives amid destruction.

Judges' comments: "This is a very moving image and I enjoy the use of grey of the ordinary day, but the contrast of the backpack which will contain the treasure once found is very striking. The use of angular brush strokes echoes the emotion and sadness of the children."

Runner-up: Se Hyeon, aged 17, North London Collegiate School Jeju (South Korea)

Title: Perspectives

Description: In modern society people judge and define others by their external appearance, viewed through another’s eyes. My multi -cultural and dimensional canvas allows the viewer to consider the perspectives one has, encouraging empathy.

Judges' comments: "The use of a cube cleverly creates views where people cannot see each other on a different side. The detail in each eye shows a high level of skill."

Winner: Ioan Mikael Nedelcu, aged 6, Avenor College (Romania)

Title: Magical Moments

Description: The work was made with acrylic paints on an A3 canvas. The artist explored the concept of the unknown, the feeling of awe in front of the entire universe's beauty and mystery. He sits in the middle of the expanding beauty and wonders on a cliff, gazing towards new beginnings.

Judges' comments: "We couldn’t stop looking at this wonderful artwork – it seems to sum up all the feelings of a magical moment so eloquently in paint! Reminiscent of Van Gogh’s starry night this scene has literally come to life, with the use of expressive brush marks and colour it has real impact. We loved the limited palette choice of blues and yellows. There is a real sense of light and wonderment in this powerful and beautiful composition. We could imagine this painting as a film, book illustration or animation!"

Runner up: Yassin Laithy, aged 6, Maadi British International School (Egypt)

Title: Magical Night

Description: The work is an A2 mixed media collage using paint and found objects such as leaves, twigs and glitter stars.

Judges' comments: "We loved the tranquil, calming atmosphere created by this artist and were immediately transported to their wondrous magical night. The effective use of mixed media stood out to us – the use of natural found elements work beautifully alongside the chosen paint palette of blues and pinks." 

Winner: Kunhee Yun, aged 10, Reigate Grammar School (Saudi Arabia)

Title: Lost in a book

Description: This vibrant and imaginative painting captures the essence of a magical moment where a young boy is lost in the pages of a book, sitting at the top of giant mushroom in a fantasy forest.

Judges' comments: "A charming painting: the composition is magical with a great use of painterly marks and strong layering of vibrant colour. The use of light creates a mesmerising sense of luminosity. Great storytelling in the artwork capturing the theme of getting lost in the pages of a book. We loved the imaginative approach and playful use of art materials."

Runner-up: José Maria Pirrón, aged 10, The Edron Academy (Mexico)

Title: A Boy's Best Friend

Description: The painting depicts a boy sharing a magical moment with his cherished dog. The careful brushwork brings to life the delighted expressions on the faces of both characters in the painting.

Judges' comments: "We both immediately felt the mutual love and trust portrayed in this painting, that special, magical bond between the boy and his dog.  The painting captures a special, still moment in time with the subjects both displaying peace and happiness in their expressions. The careful brushwork and rich, vivid greens really bring this work to life."

Winner: Elly Goh, aged 12, Prince of Wales Island International School (Malaysia)

Title: Light in the dark

Description: This artwork shows us that there will be light, even in the darkest times. The girl in yellow is using a wand to light up the dark forest, and this is quite magical, especially since the light reveals that there are more children in the background, just like her.

Judges' comments: "Almost illustrative in style this artwork is both original and delightful. We enjoyed exploring the artist’s use of art materials, of colour and contrast alongside added texture in the mark making, all executed with sensitivity and finesse. A really positive message which is uplifting and beautiful."

Runner-up: Shadi Scalet, aged 13, British International School Ljubljana 

Title: Magical Moments: Captured but Forgotten

Description: By inviting viewers to contemplate their own relationship with technology, this work emphasizes the importance of cherishing real-life moments over the curated iperfection of online interactions.

Judges' comments: "We were deeply moved and lost in thought while reading this submission. The simplicity of the phone screen images contrast effectively with the careful, pencil drawing of the hand and the complex message which they portray. Life is full of magical moments that seemingly get lost with the advancement of technology and the desire to live through the screen. This artwork communicated a strong message to its viewers."

Winner: Summer Lin, aged 14, Wellington College International Shanghai (China)

Title: Womb

Description: Womb takes the viewer into an magical interior space where creation and nature intermingle in rhythmic waves and convulsive patterns with the beauty of water, butterflies and insects weaved around organic tendrils. Life and death become one and the circle of life continues.

Judges' comments: "A highly accomplished work of art with depth, which really invites the viewer in to look at every detail. This magical theme is described quite beautifully with the sensitive use of art materials. There is a tranquil flow to the composition which leads you around the ‘canvas’ to observe and take note and move on again. We particularly liked the almost decorative use of imagery which is both powerful and gentle."

Runner-up: Lynn Kim, aged 15, North London Collegiate School Jeju (South Korea)

Title: Portal of Wonder

Description: A magical moment unfolds as a girl enters a surreal world, encountering a winged tiger, watchful flowers, and twisting, dreamlike architecture.

Judges' comments: "Wow! We loved the unusual and very original perspective created by this artist, it’s such a magical, mysterious, surreal composition! Our eyes were led all around the canvas from one point of interest to another! From the winged tiger to the twisting trunk of the tree, this artwork had us lost in its fairytale like dreamworld."

Winner: Anita Ramos, aged 17, St. Julian's School (Portugal)

Title: Gifted by the Sea

Description: This oil painting, 80cm x 80cm, encapsulates the magical moment of gathering shells from the seashore, where one is mesmerized by the various shapes and colours. The objects glisten as the water reflects and refracts.

Judges' comments: "A highly skilled artwork where tricky subjects are expertly described in oil paint. Both the hands and water here have been beautifully painted. This is a striking painting, a clever composition with a calming colour palette that captures the simple pleasures and magic of observing shells through sunlight and water. We believe the artist has beautifully captured a moment in time that serves as a reminder for us all to recognize the magic hidden in life's smallest moments."

Runner-up: Aislinn Hickey, aged 18, St George's International School, Luxembourg

Title: Memories

Description: 120cm x 85cm acrylic on cardboard with lino print and oil pastel

Judges' comments: "We were drawn to this interesting submission. The choice of cardboard as a canvas has created an unusual background and the mixed media approach provided us with lots to discuss and think about. The simple oil pastel and print work images are playful and childlike in contrast to the serene, delicate capture of the child, lost in a moment, beautifully depicted in acrylic paint. We could feel the sun on our skin and hear the birds singing in the trees as we got lost in the scene!"