A Walton Post 16 student has won a national art competition, earning recognition for a powerful photography project exploring identity, belonging and life between cultures.
We are delighted to share that Sarah, a year 12 photography student at Walton Academy, has achieved national recognition after winning the prestigious No Place Like Home art and poetry competition, organised by the Sanctuary Foundation.
The competition invited young people aged 7–19 from across the UK to explore themes of home, displacement and belonging through art and poetry. Entries were judged by a panel including celebrities, journalists and people with lived experience of displacement.
On Tuesday 16 June, Sarah travelled to London with her photography teacher, Mrs Natalie Williams, to attend the prize-giving ceremony at the British Library as part of National Refugee Week, where she discovered that her work had been selected as a winning entry.
Photography project explores identity and belonging
Sarah’s powerful photographic piece was inspired by her experience of growing up as a Slovakian in the UK and explored what it means to live between cultures. Through fragmented imagery and Slovakian text, the artwork reflected how identity can be shaped by different languages, memories and places, while celebrating the resilience that comes from carrying more than one sense of home.
Reflecting on receiving the award, Sarah added:
“I was genuinely surprised and honoured to receive this award as I knew the standard of entries would be incredibly high. Most people know me through my portrait and event photography, so it was rewarding to have a more conceptual and personal piece recognised on a national level. This work is deeply connected to my experience of growing up between cultures, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to share that story through photography.”
National recognition for Walton Post 16 student
Mrs Natalie Williams, Sarah’s photography teacher, said:
“I am absolutely delighted for Sarah winning the No Place Like Home competition. The category was for the whole of visual arts across the UK, so a remarkable achievement. Sarah was incredibly brave creating a very personal piece of work celebrating diversity of culture and ethnicity in the UK. Winning is testament to not only her talent, skill and creative ability, but also to her thoughtful and compassionate nature.”
Sarah’s work is now on display at the British Library alongside other winning entries from across the country.
This achievement reflects not only Sarah’s exceptional creativity and technical skill as a photographer, but also her ability to use art to explore important social issues and share personal experiences in a meaningful and thought-provoking way.
We are incredibly proud of Sarah and this well-deserved national recognition. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement.
