Year 8 student, Izaan Ahmed, has been awarded the People’s Choice Award for 2024 at the Royal Academy of Arts’ Young Artists’ Summer Show. This achievement comes in recognition of their soft pastel drawing, titled ‘Benjamin Zephaniah’, which was showcased in both the online and physical exhibitions during July and August this year.
Awarded by public vote, the People’s Choice Award underscores Izaan’s emerging talent as an artist, recognising not only his technical skills but also the emotional resonance his work has had with audiences.
Moira Green, Principal at Shireland Collegiate Academy, said: “We are absolutely delighted by Izaan’s latest achievement. Winning the Peoples’ Choice Award and being featured in the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition is a remarkable accomplishment that truly reflects Izaan’s hard work and dedication to art.
“Our heartfelt congratulations to Izaan from everyone at the Academy. We are excited to see what the future holds for this promising young artist.”
The Young Artists’ Summer Show continues to be one of the most highly regarded exhibitions celebrating young artists, offering a valuable platform where aspiring creatives can share their work with the wider public. Winning the People’s Choice Award is a significant highlight of Izaan’s promising art career, opening doors to exciting new opportunities in the future.
Izaan commented: “My Benjamin Zephaniah drawing is really special to me. In school we have learnt a lot about him and his passing inspired me to have a drawing to remember what he did.
“His poems inspired me to be a better person and my favourite one of his poems is ‘The British’ as it says a lot about British diversity which is close to me as I was not born in Britain and this poem makes me feel ok to be diverse.”
This year, the exhibition received over 21,500 submissions from young artists across the UK.
As Shireland Collegiate Academy continues to champion its students’ talents, the future looks bright for Izaan, who has now firmly cemented their place as a rising star in the UK art scene.
