2025 Christmas Card Competition winner
Congratulations to Jarrod, who is one of the Supported Interns based at Camberwell Road. His beautiful Christmas scene was chosen by our independent judge as the winner of this year’s Christmas card competition.
We received a record number of entries from students across all regions and College Centres this year and the standard was incredibly high as described by Louise Pasquill who judged the entries for us.
“What a fabulous challenge you gave me this year!” she said. “The most festive, heartwarming, talented and diverse collection of finalists ever and I can only pick one winner.”
Louise uses a rigorous evaluation scheme to compare all entries against the same set of criteria, including technique, detail and story-telling.
Jarrod’s entry “Festive Fireside” was chosen as the winner for the College Christmas Card Competition 2025.
“This design has the wow factor,” Louise explains. “The artist has assembled many elements into an inviting impression of a cosy Christmas. I was drawn into this ‘Festive Fireside’ scene by the strong colours and how the eyes travel through the frame of the fir, fairy lights and holly garland, into a room with tasty treats and a peaceful moment to enjoy them. I could smell the sweet, spicy gingerbread men and melting mini-mallows in the reindeer mug, the sap from the fir tree and I can hear the crackle and pop of the burning wood.
A warm drink, a gingerbread house, biscuits and fairy lights set against the backdrop of the crimson walls express the magic of what makes Christmas so special and unlike any other time of year. A beautiful pair of snowflake decorations break up the foreground and bring balance and the row of stockings and a wreath hanging on the fireplace make us feel right at home. This composition shows harmony between the different warm and neutral tones, the different textures of the leaves and the perspective brings depth.
Thank you for this lovely entry and well done.”
Jarrod was been presented with her prize of an Amazon gift voucher, a certificate and a box of her design printed into cards. His card has also been turned into a digital Christmas Card that is sent out to stakeholders and supporters by Kelly Phillips, Executive Principal of Orchard Hill College.
Louise also chose a runner up “The Delivery Dachshund”.
She said “This design has been carefully considered and is fun and endearing. The consistency in the attention to detail gives real impact and the placement of the different elements is confident and festive.
The fairy lights bring a lovely pattern, a frame and colour pops to the design. The expression on the dog’s face is characterful and the whole design is very original and effective as a Christmas card.
The storytelling is clear, entertaining and although I don’t have a dog, I think I would like this one for Christmas. Very well done.”
As Louise said it was incredibly hard to choose a winner from all the fantastic entries. All students have been awarded a certificate of achievement, and their entries have been hung around the Trust’s main office, Copthall House in Sutton to be enjoyed by staff and visitors during the festive period.
