Isle of Man Students Prize 2026

‘Are You Lost?’ is a surreal painting that explores identity, choice, and direction. The old woman represents experience and the journey through time, while the pool balls symbolise chance and the decisions we make. The mouths of grills reflect self-expression and the different ways people present themselves to the world. The traffic lights with faces, being told where to go. By combining these unusual images, I wanted to create a sense of confusion and curiosity, encouraging people to look at the painting and to think about their own path and ask themselves, ‘Are You Lost’

This oil painting explores the growing pressure placed on young girls to change their appearance. My intention for this piece was to highlight how exposure to social media from a young age can lead girls to consider aesthetic treatments before they have even finished puberty. By taking inspiration from Jonathon Yeo’s surgery series I wanted to do something similar but placing my little sister as the subject.

This piece was inspired by the fragmented nature of humanity, how all the different (both good and bad ) parts of human beings all come together to create who you are at the end of the day

‘The Labyrinthines’ depicts an underground labyrinth, brimming with darkly mystical beings and undiscovered treasures. The painting is an exploration of girlhood, merging fantastical imagery with real world experiences to tell a vivid tale of fear, magic, and love. A convoluted tunnel system connects different caverns that depict a character or scene. These snapshots symbolise different lived experiences that coincide with growing up as a girl. I was strongly inspired by movies such as Coraline (2009), Labyrinth (1986), Alice in Wonderland (2010), and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) for their otherworldly yet relatable depictions of girlhood. I was particularly intrigued by their use of labyrinths (both literal and symbolical) as a metaphor for the trials, adventures and colourful characters encountered during childhood.

Initially this painting started as a landscape of Slieu Whallian, which is a hill I see every day on the way to and from school. While I was painting it, I added the red line, which is more modern and feels really different compared to the original landscape. The red line represents humans invading the natural landscape, and it runs across the heritage railway to symbolise industry and the Industrial Revolution. But nature doesn’t really stop for people. Over time and through the seasons, it slowly grows around everything and keeps changing and evolving by itself. The wildflowers are inspired by the orchids in my grandparents’ garden, over the hill in Arrasey, which I’ve always been fascinated by since I was little. Every flower is different and unique, unlike man-made things which can start to all look the same. I wanted this painting to show that even though humans change the landscape, nature still continues to grow and make the world beautiful.

Inspired by a fascination of the world wars and the men and women who gave their lives.

Created to represent the Zeitgeist of the viking era.

Boaldyn’ Summer in the Isle of Man arrives softly, with long golden evenings stretching across rolling hills and quiet glens. Yellow gorse and purple heather brighten the cliffs above the sea. Seabirds wheel through the salt air, and bees drift between blooming wildflowers. This is Boaldyn, when the island’s fields, forests, and shores awaken in the warmth of midsummer. My mixed media Textiles piece honours the Island’s summer landscapes through a variety of stitch techniques including free motion machine embroidery, hand embroidery and merino wool dry felting. Exploring texture and fabric manipulation through soldering, and heat-treated mediums. The piece features a variety of colour processes including hand painting, dying, sublimation and brusho inks.

I have always been interested in how lighting can create tension and interest in objects and people. As part of my exam preparation I began to look at how coloured lighting can create tension. I enjoyed experimenting with media to exaggerate the contrast with hot and cold.

I began to consider how we all can become absorbed in our own thoughts. The ideas that we can get lost in out heads going down spirals of thoughts helped me to create this piece. I prepared the surface first with polyfiller and began to build the image over the surface.

This painting was inspired by Salvador Dalí’s the Persistence of Memory. Through a combination of imagery of hourglass clocks and grandfather clocks, the illustration reflects the transformation of representing time through innovation and highlights the shift from natural to mechanical ways of measuring time, suggesting how human perception and control of time has evolved. By incorporating a spinning motion into the artwork, I reference the relativity and fluid nature of time.

This oil painting, using a 3D element was inspired by Cy Twombly as I used erratic, messy writing to create meaning. It depicts a Celtic hand fastening ceremony to symbolise connection and communication, where the words from David Bowie’s ‘Conversation Piece’ represent a struggle to interpret conversations and fit in among others.

BUY IT NOW

This mixed media piece depicts the sea overpowering human attempts to control nature. By combining photography with melted wax and acrylic to recreate waves crashing onto the shore, the work contrasts the movement of the sea with the rigid structure of groynes. The 3D wooden elements emphasise how fragile these defences become against natural power.

This is an ink and pen drawing inspired by Jim Dines. I was inspired by how he draws mundane objects. I did this piece by adding coloured inks into the background to contrast against the pen, While also trying to capture the rustic aspects of the wrench.

A photograph using sections of a Slovak apartment block, cut up and put in a creative collage.

This was inspired by the work of Abby Diamond and her use of splattered ink and pen work on top. However, I preferred to use a more realistic approach and style for my piece.

BUY IT NOW

This acrylic painting is about my experience with synaesthesia. The progress of this project signified a transition from examining my interpretation of music via colour to a deeper exploration of individual memory and personal identity.

My GCSE art project was based around the theme ‘nostalgia’. I enjoyed looking back at photos of me as a child, playing, creating and being imaginative. I found an interesting picture that I thought reflected everything I was trying to show in my art work. I explored it innitially in different media and styles but chose this flat acrylic style as it gave the feeling i was looking for.

This drawing was inspired by the process of metamorphosis. I was initially inspired by Lilian Thomas Burwell’s use of colour but I found an interest for stippling in my GCSE coursework and so explored in in this piece.

This artwork is an abstract self-portrait that focuses on my personal journey and the places that have shaped who I am. At 15 years old, I have been lucky enough to live in different countries across three continents: Australasia, America, Africa and Europe. When I started planning this piece, I thought about the different images, patterns and symbols I have seen while living in these places. The bright colours and geometric shapes create a tapestry in the background. They represent the different cultures, memories and experiences that have become the foundation of my life so far. The central figure represents my mother, who has always been the constant person in my life. My brother and I have followed and shared her journey as we have moved from place to place. My brother and I are represented by the two golden beads in her earring. This shows our close connection to her and how we are always part of her journey.

The Angel of Grief symbolizes sorrow, compassion, and the intense emotional pain that often accompanies loss. William Wetmore Story, the creator of the statue, experienced this heartbreak when he lost his wife, with whom he had shared nearly 40 years of his life. Following this tragedy, he succumbed to deep depression, losing interest in both art and life. Over time, his children encouraged him to transform his sorrow into action. As a result, the artist poured all of his pain and grief into the creation of this marble statue. Tragically, shortly after William completed the pedestal, he passed away himself and was buried beside his wife, right under the very angel he had created. This piece reflects the sadness of absence and the enduring presence of love that remains, even after a loved one has passed. To me, an angel represents a celestial, flawless manifestation of wisdom, acting as a bridge between the divine and the human. The fact that even such a powerful being can mourn so deeply signifies the immense challenge of overcoming the loss of someone dear. Its quiet and mournful form serves as a reminder that grief is a natural response to loss, and that the memories of those we care about can continue to live on, even in their physical absence.

the calf who will always be remembered. an investigation into flocks and herds. my missing cow.

A portrait of my Dad in graphite pencil.

This painting explores the journey from childhood to adulthood through the image of an adult like figure breaking through a childlike world. The colourful childhood world represents the simple beliefs, fears, expectations and fantasies that often feel unquestionable when we are young. As we grow older, those ideas are challenged by experience, and our understanding of ourselves and the world becomes more complex. The figure breaking through the painting symbolises the moment when childhood perceptions no longer fully explain reality. Rather than leaving childhood behind, the work suggests that it remains a part of us, continuing to influence the way we think, feel, and remember. The painting explores the tension between the world we once believed in and the deeper understanding that develops over time, showing how growth often begins when we look beyond the world we once knew.

An investigation in to mixed media techniques, celebrating the influence of Bridget Riley & Barbara Kruger. I wanted to celebrate two of the most iconic women artists with this piece of work.

‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ is a metaphoric title that explains a confusing, surreal situation or place with unexplained feelings and images… representing a forest filled with darkness, flashes of unexplained light, orbs and creatures in shadows. I chose this theme as I wanted to create a magical, yet dark piece, where the viewers thoughts will explore the gothic shadows against the flashes of light and orbs of mystery.

This black and white image captures a swimmer from underwater and behind, using a standard GoPro shutter speed too slow to freeze motion. Instead, the movement of the swimmer is blurred, creating a sense of flow and energy. The drama of the black and white enhances the intensity and links to my theme of everyday life, reflecting how swimming is central to my life and sport plays a key role in the routines and passions of many others.

This portrait shows the background ‘noise’ going around a students head. It shows the things we can’t see and the fear that gradually builds from school and academic pressure.