The Ridgeway National Trail covers over 87-miles starting at Overton Hill at Avebury World Heritage Site in Wiltshire, through the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hertfordshire, and culminating at the Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. It is an historic monument, an artistic inspiration, a natural environment and more.
Since 2017, registered charity, The Friends of the Ridgeway, have organised The Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize with categories including wall art, sculpture, photography and writing. The aim is to spread knowledge and appreciation of the Ridgeway’s wealth of historic, artistic and environmental features.
Each season brings new colours of flowers, birds, insects, animals and trees, as well as the changing colours of woodland and downland landscapes through the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs National Landscapes. The theme of this year’s competition is Colours and Hues of the Ridgeway. The four categories in the Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize include:
- Wall Art of any medium
- Photography
- Sculpture including glass and ceramics.
- Writing in prose and poetry
The competition is open to all, including professional and amateur artists. Art work submitted must be produced in the 24 months before closing date of 28 March 2025. Full details here or find out more by emailing: swireartsprize@gmail.com
All entries will be exhibited on 26 and 27 April 2025 in the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall, Uffington, and afterwards online at the Friends of the Ridgeway website.
Passing White Horse Hill, pictured above was the overall winner of the Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize in 2024. This mixed media work was created by Emma Williams who lives in Princes Risborough.
