The DPA are delighted to be partnering with Roots Clothing to run a Youth Art Competition, inspired by Dartmoor. Young artists aged between 6 and 18 (inclusive) are invited to submit their work, influenced by the unique landscape, animals, culture and history of Dartmoor. The winner will have their work featured on a brand new clothing line and be gifted a piece of clothing with their work on.
The Team at Roots say: ‘Is it the stunning hills that touch the sky? The playful streams that dance through the valleys? Or maybe it’s the stories hidden in the ancient stones? Whatever Dartmoor inspires in you, we want to see it! Use any medium you like—paint, pencil, digital art, or something totally unique!’
How to Enter
How to EnterTheme: Create a piece of art that shows what Dartmoor means to you—its beauty, history, or personal significance.
Eligibility: Open to all young artists aged 6-18.
Deadline: Make sure to submit your artwork by March 31st, 2025.
Please read the Roots Terms and Conditions before entering.
Much of the profit from the sales of the clothing line created using the winning artwork will help to fund the award winning collaborative Girls Do Dartmoor project, delivered by Kats Koster-Shadbolt of the Dartmoor National Park Authority with support from the Dartmoor Preservation association. Profit from the sales of the t-shirts will go back into funding this inspiring youth access project, which seeks to equip young women with the knowledge and experience to feel confident in nature inspiring environmental stewardship of this amazing landscape. The DPA will also use some of the profits to fund land management and natural preservation schemes, on various sites across the moor.
A Sustainable Collaboration
Roots feels like the perfect group to work with for this collaboration. The company is made up from a passionate group of 15-16 year old students on a mission to make a positive impact through sustainable fashion. What began as a business studies project blossomed into a real-world venture with purpose. Roots design and sell clothing with a conscience. Their goal is simple: create stylish, eco-friendly apparel while channelling profits into charitable causes and environmental initiatives.
In a world where the beauty of nature is increasingly under threat, the creators at Roots find themselves compelled to act. Beyond being a clothing and multimedia company, they are also a collective of passionate individuals driven by a shared vision—to honour and protect the earth that sustains us all. Each piece of clothing is a tribute to the wild landscapes that inspire and connect us as people. Roots believe that every garment can tell a story, with each purchase allowing more people to become part of the narrative.
We are delighted to have three prestigious names on our judging panel: contemporary art curator Lara Goodband, photographer Julian Baird and storyteller and environmentalist Lisa Schneidau. Lara is currently Contemporary Art Curator & Programmer at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter City Council, in the centre of Exeter and curated the recent exhibition Dartmoor: A Radical Landscape. Julian is a renowned landscape photographer who has been exploring and creating inspiring images of Dartmoor for over 10 years. Lisa is a professional storyteller, working with creative storytelling as a way of enabling better connection with nature and landscape. She has a background in ecology and conservation, working for twenty-five years with various Wildlife Trusts.