Skip to main content
circle

Off the Wall Art Competition

Hadrian’s Wall Postcard Artwork Competition

To mark the build up of our u3a event - Off the Wall on 10 May 2023 we hosted an art competition, collecting artwork from across the movement which interprets the theme of Hadrian’s Wall.

The entries were of an extremely high standard, and we are delighted to announce the winners of the competition, whose work you can see below. 

The winning artwork will be available to purchase as postcards on the u3a brand centre soon. 

Our Winners

First Place - Living Stones

A watercolour painting. Following the wall as it dips down the hill before climbing up to proceed on its journey.

Valerie, Camberley u3a 

Second Place - Aemelia

I’ve always been fascinated by the women who lived on and around Hadrian’s Wall during Roman times. My painting is of a gold, woman’s finger ring made in the 2nd-4th century AD and excavated in Corbridge in 1840. Inscribed “Aemelia, long life to you,” it may be one of the earliest Christian artefacts found in Britain. Painted in watercolours with gold and silver highlights.

Tania, Washington Village u3a

Third Place - Walking The Wall

The wall on one of the rare sunny days, painted in watercolour.

Chris, Syston and District u3a

We apologise that the winners for the u3a postcard art competition were initially announced in the wrong order. We are sorry for any confusion and upset caused.

Other Entries

We saw plenty of other fantastic entries that also deserved to be displayed online for u3a members to see. These are in no particular order. Enjoy!

Wall To Wall Sun

I used water-mixable oils and this was my first attempt at a small painting. It was an enjoyable learning curve

Annie, Pontyclun u3a

A Basic Interpretation Of Hadrian's Wall

Art in soft pastels

Robert, Luton u3a

Looking East From Steel Rigg

Painting in acrylics.

Sheila, Hexham u3a

Roman Soldier

Ghost of roman soldier sitting by Hadrian's wall. Acrylic and watercolour

Marian, SW Herts u3a 

Gap In The Wall

Photograph with intentional camera movement. Panasonic Lumix TZ100, 1/6s, f/8, ISO800

David, Bearsden and Milngavie u3a

Northumberland Sheep

Ink and gouache on paper

Pam, Marple & District u3a 

Look Out

A depiction of the conflict between the Romans and the Scots of which the wall is a reminder. This watercolour shows that the Scots shouldn’t be under estimated and it is the Roman guard that needs to look out

Susan, Bridlington u3a 

Maps And The Landscape

This piece is in mixed media on watercolour paper. A painted background showing typical hills from the area, has had coloured collage pieces added. Some of these are pieces of a local map, or from a magazine. Others were created by me. Detail was then added in pen and acrylic paint.

Sue, Carlisle & District u3a 

Storm Clouds Over Sycamore Gap

Photograph in monochrome taken of a rainy day at the Wall

Susan, Morpeth u3a 

The Wall Riding The Crests

Watercolour on postcard.

Gwen, Prudhoe u3a 

North Pennine Sunset

This is an interpretation of the wide open landscape and big skies surrounding Hadrian’s wall using pastels.

Cathy, Sheffield u3a 

Walking The Wall

I have used ink, watercolour and pastels to create an atmospheric look back in time.

Yvonne, Lymington u3a 

Hadrian's Wall In The Moonlight

Watercolour painting of Hadrian's wall in the moonlight of a full moon

Brian, Long Eaton & District u3a

Sandstone Wall

Collage using sandpaper, moss & heather to show close-up view of wall.

Kathleen, 

Will We Be Allowed Through

A scene at a mile post on Hadrian's Wall imagined in Pen and Wash

Neil, Hale u3a

Soldier's Dream

Roman soldier crouched by the wall in the rain, dreaming of sunny Italy!

Gayle, Bury St. Edmund's u3a 

Defending The Wall

Pen and wash sketch of a Roman Soldier defending Hadrian's Wall.

Anne, Hale & District u3a

Emperor Hadrian And The Roman Wall

Watercolour, gouache and pen

Wendy, Sherburn & Villages u3a

Storm's Coming

Painting in watercolour

Lilwen, Hale & District u3a

Peace And Tranquillity Along The Wall

The work was completed in watercolours.

Jenene, Washington Village u3a

Hole In The Wall

Pen, graphite and coloured pencil

Margaret

Wall Of Inspirational Words

Acrylic paint on card. 90% of words cut from latest u3a magazine. Words covered in a glaze medium.

Fiona, Arun u3a

View From The North

I wanted to paint what my kin from Scotland would see when approaching the wall but in present day. This was produced with water colour on cold pressed paper

Ian, Washington Village u3a

Winding Away

Artwork in ink

Barbara, Duns u3a

Sycamore Gap

Acrylic Painting of Sycamore Gap.

Nirmal, Derby u3a

The Picts

Moss green fabric, stiffened. Freehand machine stitched using bronze satin thread showing one of the many stone carvings left by The Picts. This one is usually recognised as ‘flower’.

Norma, East Lothian u3a 

Sycamore Gap Tree

Coloured Pencil and Graphite next to Hadrian’s Wall near Crag Lough

Sue, Broxbourne u3a

Back to off the Wall webpage