The winner of the Isle of Wight Young Artist Award 2025 is Luca Frankland (age 18), for his acrylic painting depicting a moment with friends at a much loved Island location. There was a lot of amazing work submitted this year, of varying styles and mediums, but after careful consideration from the Brave Island and Quay Arts team, Luca’s piece was chosen as the overall winner. He received an acrylic award created by KReative Studios. Find out a bit more about Luca’s work below.
Why did you choose to enter the Young Artist Award?
I was told to by a friend who said I have nothing to lose but had thought about it before from seeing posts of last years event, and I thought it would be really cool to get a wider opinion on what people think of my work. I really enjoyed talking about it with people that appreciated it which was really nice.
Your work often captures a moment in time, can you tell us about why this theme runs through your work?
I guess in the past couple of years I’ve been unintentionally developing a bit of an aesthetic across my work, most of it is just from photos I have taken and then thought would make a good painting, sometimes the other way round (seen something good to paint then photographed it). But it’s normally in busy moments when I accidentally step away and just watch it unfold – it’s not exactly disassociating but it’s a good way of describing it.
I like the way light hits things at night and the unaware sort of fleetingness of a moment – and capturing it. The sense of quiet in the atmosphere created by lighting and composition.
Where do you draw influence from for the art you create?
I don’t really know to be honest, in a not big headed way, I’m sort of just influenced by my own experiences which is what I capture in my work. I guess I could say I’m influenced by the way things appear to me, mainly at night, when I spot the quiet moments within busy scenes.
And finally, what are your goals for your creative projects going forward?
In future I’d like to do series of pieces, and do some really big work, I’d also like to do multiple of one piece in different media’s.
The Isle of Wight Young Artist Award 2025 exhibition is open until Saturday 1st November. Young people aged 14-25 submitted their artwork to be showcased in a professional setting, which is on display at Quay Arts in the Clayden Gallery. The exhibition is open everyday, from 10am – 4pm, and free to enter.
