“I was absolutely amazed when my name was called out,” said Adam Binder. “Looking around at the talent I was competing against I really didn’t think I had a chance. I feel honoured to be chosen from among so many wonderful artists.”

Commenting on the winning piece, judge and artist Gary Hodges said: “It was a unanimous decision. Essence of polar bear; the sculptor has pared this down to perfection. I’d love to see this enlarged ten times and put on permanent public display in Hyde Park or similar.”

Binder, a sculptor from Meysey Hampton near Cirencester, received his prize from friend of DSWF the actor Robert Lindsay at an evening reception at London’s Mall Galleries on Monday 24th May, where over 100 works of art short-listed for the competition were on display and for sale to benefit endangered wildlife.

Artworks with African themes took home two category wins: Davina Bosanquet’s painting Buffalo in Motion won for the best Wildlife in Action piece, and Nick Mackman’s ceramic and mixed media Bad Hair Day took home the Open category prize.