Young Kennel Club Artist of the Year Competition 2025

YKC Artist Of The Year

Unleash Your Creativity and Celebrate Our Milestone! This year’s Artist of the Year will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the YKC.  This year, our theme is all about celebrating the incredible bond between you and your dog/s and celebrating 40 years of the YKC. We invite young artists to showcase their talents and contribute to our milestone celebration.

The competiton

We would like you to create artwork to include the themes and that celebrates the 40th anniversary of our club, highlighting the joy and friendship between you and your dog/s. Create your artwork use any medium photography, paint, pencil, mixed media and digital art. The criteria will look at the relevance to the theme, originality, and celebratory spirit.

The theme/s

You can choose either one of the following themes for your photo or artwork of your dog and you must also incorporate the 40th year celebration of the YKC. 

  1. Best Portrait of a Dog/s - create a imaginative portrait of your dog or a dog you love. 

  2. Dogs Through the Decades - Illustrate the evolving relationship between young people and dogs over the past 40 years. 

  1. Heartwarming Moments - Illustrate the emotional impact and connection between a young person their dog that showcases their bond.

The brief
  • In your photo or painting the dog should be the main subject along with the 40th celebration. 
  • The layout must be portrait. 
  • You don’t need to add titles or wording to your image/painting. 
  • Any variety of art medium can be used. 
Judging criteria

The photos and artwork entered in the competition will be judged on how well they show the theme, as well as how creative you have been 

  • The judges will look at three key areas:  
  • Creativity and Originality 
  • Artistic Skill 
  • Relevance to the Theme
Just remember

You must include the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the YKC in your artwork or photography. 

Look at the themes and how to include the 40th celebration, the judges will be looking for something different and to catch their attention.

Create, send and win!
  • Entries should be portrait only 
  • One image/picture only that best reflects the theme 
  • Please don’t modify the image 
  • Size of image your photos should be no bigger than 10MB, in JPEG format and no smaller than 600 x 600 
  • Painting can be A4 or A3 
  • The photo/painting must be taken by the person entering

Please include in your email:

  1. Your full name 
  2. Age 
  3. Email address 
  4. Title of image 
  5. Describe your image/painting 
  6. Entrants should email their image to this address

Remember: the closing date for your entry is Friday 31 January 2025.

Prizes

Open to all members aged 6-24 years.  

1st Prize 

£80 prize money 

Four free tickets to Crufts 

2nd Prize                                                      

£50 prize money 

Four free tickets to Crufts 

3rd Prize 

£30 prize money  

Four free tickets to Crufts

FAQ’s

When does the competition open? 

The competition is open from October 2024 

 

Who can enter the competition? 

All Young Kennel Club members aged 6-24 years 

 

Does it cost money to enter or a fee to register? 

No, it’s free to all Young Kennel Club members 

 

I entered last year; can I enter again? 

Yes, if you took part last year you can enter the competition again 

 

When does the competition close? 

Friday 31 January 2025