The John Ruskin Prize
The John Ruskin Prize: Honouring art with purpose
Founded by The Big Draw in collaboration with the Guild of St George, the John Ruskin Prize is a biennial award celebrating artists, designers, and makers whose work reflects the values of John Ruskin—the 19th-century writer, social thinker, and champion of art, craft, and social justice.
The Alan Davidson Foundation has been supporting The Big Draw since 2020, and now proudly sponsors the Under-26 John Ruskin Prize, supporting emerging artists at the beginning of their creative journeys. As part of its wider commitment to visual storytelling and public engagement with the arts, the Foundation also supports the Prize’s broader mission to highlight contemporary works that explore observation, ecology, social change, and cultural heritage.
In 2024, the Foundation confirmed it would continue backing the Prize for a further two years, extending its support through to 2027.
Winners and themes
2025
“From the eye to the hand”
Selected from nearly 3000 entries, a total of 87 works by 85 artists, makers and innovators were selected and exhibited in January 2025 at Trinity Buoy Wharf.
The Alan Davidson under 26 prize winners...
Winner: Alice Goehrs for ‘120 m² de geste dans le vaste (120 m² of gesture in the vastness)’
Highly Commended: Hannah MacCaig for ‘Redwood’
2024
“Seeing the Unseen, Hearing the Unspoken.”
At a private viewing on January 31, Alan Davidson Foundation Trustee Jane Craik presented the Under 26 award to Blythe Plenderleith for her powerful installation, “Bed of Hails.” The work stood out for its emotional depth and originality, exemplifying the spirit of the Prize and the potential of young creatives to challenge, inform, and inspire.
In an extraordinary move, the judging panel decided not to select a runner-up in the category, instead awarding two joint First Prizes due to the exceptional quality of the submissions. The Prize recognised a broad range of disciplines and topics, from deeply personal narratives to socio-political commentary.
