Freya Dix of Shiplake College: Twin Bloom (2026)

2026 Winner of The Arts Society Henley (TASH) Year 12 & 13 Art Competition

Freya explains, "I created this large sculptural piece mounted on a board, featuring two oversized clay flowers, each with a tiny baby figure nestled right in the centre, once this had fully dried I then used pastel coloured oil paints. The idea behind it is personal it's all about my relationship with my twin sister and how we've grown from the same starting point into two completely separate people with our own identities. I chose flowers because they feel like a really natural way to represent growth and vulnerability, but also how we all kind of bloom in our own time and in our own way.

By placing the babies inside the flowers, I wanted to capture that idea of sharing an origin but slowly branching off into individuals, with our own experiences shaping who we become. It's a piece that means a lot to me, and I wanted it to feel honest and reflective of that unique bond we share.

I study at Shiplake College doing Art and Photography A Levels alongside a BTEC in Sport. I am hoping to study for a Fine Art degree at Loughborough University. "