Young artists showcase Dartmoor’s beauty in 2025 youth art competition

Three young artists have triumphed in the 2025 Dartmoor Youth Art Competition, a collaboration between youth-led Roots Clothing and the Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA).

The competition, which invited participants to create Dartmoor-inspired artwork while advocating for the preservation of the iconic national park, saw Juniper Holliday (12), Sophie Hobson (15), and Molly Wightman (16) selected as the top winners. 

Their artwork will be featured on limited-edition Roots Clothing t-shirts, with all proceeds directed towards DPA’s youth access programmes and conservation efforts.

“People protect what they love, so we should get more people to spend time on Dartmoor… hiking, wild camping, or just taking in the amazing views,” said Juniper Holliday, whose entry stood out for its striking artistic vision.

Molly Wightman, the oldest of the winners, described Dartmoor’s enduring appeal: “Dartmoor is forever and the idea of it not is difficult to imagine. It is our past, present, and future. We can protect it with respect.”

The winning t-shirts will be available for purchase through the Roots website and at Dartmoor National Park shops starting May 2025. 

The initiative mirrors the success of other art-driven conservation efforts aimed at engaging younger generations in environmental causes.

Roots Clothing, a teenage-led activist organisation founded in 2024, focuses on inspiring positive environmental action through multimedia. 

Initially started as a business studies project, Roots has grown into a movement dedicated to addressing climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. 

Their partnership with DPA, a longstanding environmental group founded in 1883, is focused on the shared goal of preserving Dartmoor’s natural beauty for future generations.

Matt McEwen, Head of Communications at Roots Clothing, expressed his excitement over the success of the competition: “It truly exceeded our expectations. We couldn’t have asked for a more positive outcome. We loved the creativity of each and every entry, and could visualise the imagination and experiences of Dartmoor that lay embedded in the artwork.”

Roots Clothing Director and Head of Media, 16-year-old Lucas Brendon, emphasised the importance of the competition: “These young artists have shown through their incredible work that Dartmoor isn’t just a playground for the privileged – it’s a living, breathing landscape that inspires and belongs to all of us. While millionaire landowners are in court trying to fence off the commons, these children are reminding us why public access to nature isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential for the next generation’s wellbeing and environmental consciousness.”

Lucas further highlighted the significance of the competition in the context of ongoing legal battles over Dartmoor's access rights. “What’s striking about these young artists is that many have never experienced wild camping on Dartmoor – which has been a formative experience for generations before them. If Mr. Darwall succeeds in his latest legal challenge, these children may never get to experience sleeping under the stars on Dartmoor. Their artwork becomes an unwitting protest against the erosion of rights their parents took for granted.”

The competition also recognised ten "Highly Commended" entries, which will be showcased in a special collage design available for public purchase at cost price. 

These designs capture the park’s diverse ecosystems and Dartmoor's farming heritage.

A panel of esteemed judges, including Lara Goodband, Julian Baird, and Lisa Schneidau, evaluated the submissions. They praised the outstanding quality of the entries, which represented a wide range of perspectives on Dartmoor’s importance.

The winning t-shirts will be available in various sizes and colours on RootsClothing.co.uk starting in May, with all proceeds benefiting Dartmoor youth access projects, ensuring more children can experience the same magical connection to Dartmoor seen in the artwork.