In 2023 ASPC decided to hold a photography competition. The results were so encouraging, with many entrants and a uniformly very high standard, that we decided to do it again, in 2024.

Building on the experience we were very pleased to extend the competition into 2025. The standard of entries was really impressive, yet again.

Twelve winners have been chosen and,  in addition to receiving a modest gift, will be featured on our website home pages -one per month.

Our January 2026 winner is Ruth Simpson’s stunningly atmospheric photo of the Mother Earth sculpture at Grandholm.

The quality of the subject matter is no accident as this is one of Andy Scott’s many vivid works. Famous, amongst other things, for The Kelpies, Mr Scott is rightly renowned for his work. A visit to his website - https://www.andyscottsculptor.com/ - will enthrall, for the range and excellence of his work. Depictions of horses are a particular area of mastery in his work.

This particular work was commissioned by Cala Homes to fulfil a public art commitment as part of the Grandholm Village housing development, circa 2005. The stole or shawl draped around Mother Earth is a reference to the Crombie cloth, produced at Grandholm Mills which once stood on this site. Crombie cloth was the cloth that once clothed Kings and Emperors, Soviet leaders and Hollywood stars. The two leopards are part, and thus a symbol, of the Coat of Arms of Aberdeen City.

Ruth has given us an image, using a skilfully rendered piece of art in its own right, made luminous and transfigured by the skill of the photographer.

If you’re interested in learning more about each one of our images as part of our photography competition, then why not take a look at one of our previous submissions, here.