The Sovereign Young Artist Competition 2026

Amy Shepherd studied Performing Arts and spent over eight years teaching in the UK. She went on to work as an educational consultant, helping schools embed written elements within practical subjects and supporting staff in planning for creative learning. Amy is now the Head of Creative Development at The Growing Artists Programme, where she leads events, community projects, and creates opportunities for young people and local artists to thrive. 

Beatrice Garcia is a Gibraltarian fine artist and illustrator. Her bold and colourful work roots itself on historical research and is inspired by the colours of the Mediterranean. 
 
As an artist and illustrator she has worked with a whole host of international clients from architectural firms, property developers and cultural organisations amongst others. These clients include HM Government of Gibraltar’s Ministry of Equality, British Council Qatar, Street Child United, Arc Design, Jersey Post and the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau.  In 2023 she was longlisted for a World Illustration Award. 

Eleanor Dobbs is the illustrator of over 50 books for children. Winner of English Award for best children’s book and passionate about encouraging fellow illustrators to open up to the pleasure of making work for children. She teaches and is a multidisciplinary artist which helps her to see the benefits of coming to illustrative solutions through many creative channels. In 2023, Eleanor was awarded the Gibraltar Cultural Ambassador Award by the Ministry of Culture and is proud to connect Gibraltar to an international audience through her work as an artist and children’s book creator. 

Stefano Blanca Sciacaluga is a multidisciplinary artist, writer and musician from Gibraltar. His practice is deeply entrenched in photography and graphic design with regular forays into other disciplines, drawing inspiration from often overlooked details of the everyday and the layered cultural heritage of Gibraltar. Active for over two decades, he has exhibited in Gibraltar, Spain and Italy as well as having writings published in local literary publications and press outlets. 

  He is also a co-founder and president of Kitchen Studios, a multidisciplinary contemporary art platform in Gibraltar. With over a decade in operation, Kitchen Studios has extensive experience of exhibitions and artistic actions with artists locally and abroad, in Spain and Morocco. Kitchen Studios’ aim is to foster the arts locally with a particular focus on cooperation, collaboration, experimentation and conversation.