The Sefton Young Artist of the Year exhibition has officially opened at The Atkinson in Southport. Running from Saturday 18 July through to Saturday 29 August 2026, the gallery is showcasing the massive creative talent of local school and college students from across the borough.
The annual competition, held in partnership with The Arts Society Southport, invited young people living or studying in Sefton to submit one original piece of work. The response this year was huge, with entries ranging across paintings, drawings, photography, and mixed media.
See the Award-Winning Local Talent
A panel of local judges has selected the category winners and highly commended artists for 2026, with prizes backed by arts vouchers. The winning original physical pieces are now proudly on display in the main exhibition space.
The category winners for this year include:
- Year 7 Winner: Dove (Acrylic) by Joshua
- Year 8 Winner: Crosby Beach (Photograph) by Luna
- Year 9 Winner: Hungry Henry (Acrylic, Watercolour & Pencil) by Dexter
- Year 10 Winner: Predators (Coloured Pencil) by Kirandeep
Highly commended works on display cover a brilliant mix of themes and materials, including Connor’s acrylic piece The Plague, Dylan’s Dexter The Monitor Lizard, and Eva’s detailed pencil drawing The Curious Mouse.
Plan Your Visit
You can view the main physical exhibition for free in the gallery area at The Atkinson on Lord Street. For anyone who cannot make it down in person or wants to see every single entry submitted to the competition this year, a full digital gallery slideshow is also live on the website.
- Dates: Saturday 18 July – Saturday 29 August 2026
- Opening Times: Monday to Saturday, 10:00am – 4:00pm
- Location: The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB
- Cost: Completely free admission
It is a fantastic opportunity to support young creatives in our local community and see the borough through their eyes. Drop in during your next trip to Southport town centre to view the collection.