Big Hoot Colouring Competition winners are chosen!

After much deliberation judges from St Elizabeth Hospice and Suffolk Owl Sanctuary have chosen the winners of the Big Hoot Colouring Competition following a fantastic array of colourful submissions.

Held throughout the school summer holidays, the Big Hoot Colouring Competition saw the hospice call on young artists to get creative ahead of the Big Hoot 2022 next summer, by encouraging them to enter their own coloured hoots to be in with a chance to win a family VIP ticket to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary.

Open to all, aged 16-years-old and younger, the Big Hoot Colouring Competition required entrants to colour in and create their own unique designs on Big Hoot stencils.

Following hundreds of submissions, full of creativity and imagination, the judges chose eight-year-old Zachary Williams’ design as the overall winner, as well Hugo, aged seven, and Betsy, aged 11, who won the under 10 and under 16 categories respectively, both of whom received a Big Hoot merchandise pack.

Zachary Williams said: “Wow, I still can’t believe that I won, there were some amazing entries and I’m really grateful that mine was chosen. I can’t wait to visit the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary!”

The Big Hoot 2022 is the latest art trail to be held in Ipswich by independent Suffolk charity, St Elizabeth Hospice in partnership with creative producers, Wild in Art.

As part of the Big Hoot 2022, between June and September next year, 40 ornately decorated owl sculptures, featuring designs celebrating all things Suffolk, will be scattered throughout Ipswich showcasing the wealth of artistic talent of the county and beyond, as part of the biggest free art event in Suffolk which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town.

Celia Joseph, Community Relationships Fundraising Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “A massive congratulations to Zachary for his brilliant design. We had so many ‘owltastic’ entries, it really was a brilliant competition and has made the whole hospice team even more excited for the Big Hoot swooping into Ipswich next summer.

“We hope Zachary and his family have a real hoot visiting Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, who are fantastic supporters and sponsors of the hospice and the Big Hoot 2022.”

For more information about the Big Hoot 2022 go to thebighoot.co.uk.