The British Wildlife Photography Awards 2025 (BWPA 2025) winners have been officially announced, celebrating the most stunning images of British wildlife and habitats. Over 13,000 entries competed this year, revealing the remarkable diversity of Britain’s ecosystems and wildlife.
This year’s grand prize went to photographer Simon Withyman, who took home the prestigious title of BWPA 2025 Overall Winner with his captivating urban wildlife photograph titled “Urban Explorer”. The competition also made history with its youngest-ever winner: 9-year-old Jamie Smart, awarded Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025.
Dive in below to explore each category, the inspiring stories behind the winning images, and celebrate the photographers who have creatively captured Britain’s extraordinary wildlife.
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British Wildlife Photography Awards 2025 Overall Winner: “Urban Explorer” by Simon Withyman
British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025
Taking home the coveted title of British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 is Simon Withyman, whose mesmerizing image, titled “Urban Explorer,” portrays a red fox navigating the cityscape of Bristol. Simon spent three years documenting the life of this urban fox, successfully capturing her daily routine as she raised her young amidst the bustling city streets.
Photographer: Simon Withyman
Subject: Red fox
Location: Bristol, England
Withyman’s award-winning photograph masterfully combines creative composition, urban aesthetics, and intimate storytelling, demonstrating that wildlife can thrive and adapt in surprising environments. The compelling perspective through the railings adds a captivating dimension, transforming an everyday urban scene into an extraordinary wildlife portrait.
Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025: “Curlew O’Clock!” – Jamie Smart (Age 9)
Photographer: Jamie Smart
Subject: Curlew
Location: Wiltshire, England
Jamie Smart’s enchanting photograph of a curlew wandering amidst glowing dandelions at sunrise earned her the youngest ever BWPA winner title. Jamie perfectly captured the gentle tranquility and early morning beauty of the Wiltshire countryside.
British Wildlife Photography Awards 2025 Category Winners
Below, we present the standout winners from each BWPA 2025 category, celebrating their exceptional vision and the stories behind their awe-inspiring images.
Animal Behaviour Winner: “Butterfly Face-off” by John Waters
John Waters captured a dynamic moment between two butterflies, beautifully portraying their territorial confrontation with remarkable detail and intensity. This photograph exemplifies skillful wildlife photography, freezing a fleeting moment in stunning detail and action.
Animal Portraits Winner: “Hare in Motion” by David Tipling
Captured in Norfolk, England, David Tipling’s mesmerizing portrait of a brown hare combines motion, grace, and subtle power. The image skillfully highlights the hare’s unique characteristics, offering viewers an intimate connection with Britain’s iconic wildlife.
Botanical Britain Winner: “Streetlit Snowdrop” by Jacob J. Watson-Howland
Jacob J. Watson-Howland transforms a common snowdrop into an enchanting nocturnal subject, illuminated delicately by urban streetlights in Canterbury. This remarkable photograph underlines how even the smallest botanical wonders hold immense visual and emotional impact.
Black & White Winner: “Guillemot Kingdom” by Mark Kirkland
Shot in St Abbs, Scotland, Kirkland’s striking monochromatic photograph highlights the awesome guillemots. This visually poetic capture delivers powerful contrast and rich textures, showcasing black-and-white photography’s timeless appeal.
Coast & Marine Winner: “Blue Shark” by Nicholas More
From Cornwall’s rich marine habitats near Penzance, Kirsty Andrews’ stunning image of a blue shark demonstrates Britain’s diverse marine biodiversity. Her photograph exemplifies the beauty and complexity beneath Britain’s coastal waters.
Habitat Winner: “Kingdom of the Hare” by Drew Buckley
This brilliant portrait of a mountain hare, showing the vast snowy landscape of the Cairngorms mountains that could be his domain as well as the central figure, brings together composition, color and imagination in a very interesting and graphic way, standing out for its powerful visual impact.
Hidden Britain Winner: “Roosting Dragons” by Daniel Trim.
The beautiful backlighting Daniel Trim gets from these “Roosting Dragons” proves, once again, that nature still hides beautiful patterns in plain sight. His use of depth and the sense of movement in the adjacent elements combine perfectly with this vision and work together to give a truly magical feeling.
Wild Woods Winner: “Storm Light Over the Caledonian Forest” by James Roddie
James Roddie’s atmospheric capture of Scotland’s ancient Scots pines beautifully encapsulates the haunting majesty of Britain’s woodlands, emphasizing their critical ecological role.
British Seasons Winner: “Deer Throughout the Year” by Lauren McIntyre
Lauren McIntyre’s fascinating four-year journey documenting deer across seasons is a testament to dedication and patience, beautifully portraying the timeless cycles of nature.
Documentary Series Winner: “Land Use” by Chris O’Reilly
Chris O’Reilly’s portfolio starkly portrays Britain’s changing landscape due to human activities, highlighting critical environmental challenges faced by British wildlife. His thought-provoking images compel us to reflect on conservation and environmental responsibility.
Young British Wildlife Photographer Categories Winners
Celebrating promising young talents, winners such as Jamie Smart and her captivating image “Curlew O’Clock!” (second image in this post) remind us that extraordinary talent has no age limit.
15-17 Years: Ben Lucas’ “Street Cleaners”
12-14 Years: “And Take-off – Gannets at Bass Rock” by Kiran Simpson
These young photographers brilliantly captured remarkable moments, demonstrating that the future of wildlife photography is bright.
In addition to all these stunning images, you can enjoy the complete gallery with Runner-up and Highly Commended photos in the gallery on the official contest page.
BWPA 2026: Next Year’s Competition is Open!
Feeling inspired? The British Wildlife Photography Awards 2026 competition is now open for submissions. Photographers of all ages and experience levels are invited to submit their best images. Visit our dedicated photography contests page to explore this and other upcoming contests worldwide.
Take your camera outdoors and join the growing community of photographers committed to documenting and celebrating the beauty and importance of wildlife conservation.