Meet the winner of Draw Home 2026

Wed 12th August 2026

Earlier this year, talented artists from across Scotland put their creativity to work in Draw Home, our art competition celebrating the meaning of home while raising vital funds for Make It Your Own – Impact Arts’ tenancy sustainment programme supporting people at risk of homelessness in Renfrewshire.

After an incredible response and a public vote, illustrator Reilly was crowned our 2026 Draw Home winner with her beautifully detailed coloured pencil artwork, capturing a warm and welcoming hedgehog family home inspired by the classic storybooks many of us grew up with.

We caught up with Reilly to hear more about her journey back to art, the inspiration behind her winning piece, what “home” means to her, and why creativity continues to play such an important role in her life. From rediscovering her passion after changing career paths to encouraging others to embrace their own creativity, her story is a wonderful reminder of the life-changing power of making art.

Can you tell us more about you and how you first became interested in art?

So, I study illustration in Glasgow at the City of Glasgow College, but am originally from Edinburgh, and while recently I have committed myself to an artistic pursuit, it really was not that way for a long time. It was originally my older sister who taught me to draw, showing me Manga characters for the first time when we were young girls, and I continued drawing as a hobby throughout school, but it was the creative restrictions and discipline that came alongside studying Fine Art at Nat 5 and Higher that put me off creating art for a long time. It is sad to say, but I had quite a negative experience in high school with studying art, and so I went off to University to study something much more academic and boring. After three years of that though, I thankfully saw sense and realised that my consistent C-level coursework might mean that I was made for more artistic pursuits.

What kind of artwork do you like the most/specialise in?

This piece of work is actually quite a good representation of my artwork and style of drawing. I love to work with coloured pencil in large-scale drawings – the original piece is A3 in size, and I chose to make it thus so that I could squeeze in as much homely detail as possible. I am constantly inspired by children’s artwork and tend to always have a child audience in mind as I am drawing, even if it is not intentional. I am a nanny for small children alongside my studies, and that up-close observation of these children and their families is always inspiring me in my artwork; it makes me want to draw what inspires them, what entertains them and what they interact with daily.

How did you first learn about Impact Arts?

I am very grateful to have extremely helpful tutors at my college who are always encouraging us to enter different competitions or get involved with volunteering positions. One of them emailed all of us with the details of the ‘Draw Home’ competition, where I was drawn in by such an inspiring company with a real heart for community.

What made you decide to enter the Draw Home art competition?

My entire life changed in many ways when I decided to leave University and study something I was more passionate about at college instead, and one of the biggest mindset changes I have sought is that ‘it can’t hurt… what is the worst that could happen?’ With that mindset, I entered the Draw Home competition believing that I had no chance of winning, but it could not hurt to try.

Can you tell us about your winning piece? (E.g. What was the inspiration behind it? How did you create it? What do you hope people think when they see it? Etc.)

This drawing was a labour of love, taking me about three months to complete. It pays homage to all of the classic animal tales that we all grew up loving: the E.H. Shepard drawings of Winnie the Pooh and The Wind in the Willows; the Beatrix Potter worlds; the original Pauline Baynes drawings of Mr and Mrs Beavers’ house in the Narnia stories. These and so many more films and books inspired in me a love for that type of home that is so full of stuff that the everyday life just seems to be spilling out of it in the most unashamed and glorious way. I wanted this little hedgehog mother to be caught in a moment that was for her, a mundane moment of routine, but for us as the viewer we are being allowed a brief peek into her family home where the hearth is always warm, the pantry always brimming and a hedgehog mother’s hug is never more than five minutes away.

How did you feel when you found out the public had voted your artwork as the winner?

More than ever, I felt so supported by the community around me. I am so fortunate to have friends and family who were as eager to vote for me as they were. It was so awesome to see my artwork alongside work that I thought looked incredible and was so well made and to have mine chosen over theirs was an honour.

The theme of this art competition was ‘home’ and entry fees went towards Make It Your Own, our tenancy sustainment programme preventing homelessness in Renfrewshire. What does ‘home’ mean to you?

Home for me has always been paramount in the way that I express my creativity and seek comfort. It is a place where I have total control over what it looks like, feels like, sounds like, even smells like and it is such a privilege to be able to have that kind of control over an entire space. Home is a place where I have the freedom to create a space that reflects my personality in an entirely material way, where I get to turn creative thoughts into physical pieces of me.

Our mission at Impact Arts is about transforming lives through creativity. What does art and creativity mean to you? Why is it important?

Right now, art is something that I am coming back to slowly. After years of putting it to the side to pursue what I thought I wanted, I am rediscovering it again. My creativity is driving me to explore new methods, tools and techniques that, if I am honest, turn out rubbish 90% of the time, but I am learning to be okay with that too again. That has definitely been the hardest part of this process, but I really try not to let it get to me, as every artist will tell you that is what it’s all about: trying something new again and again, hoping that it might turn out somewhat cool. And on the rare occasion when it does, that is the best feeling in the world.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about exploring art and creativity? What would your words of encouragement be?

Don’t try to separate your creative self from the parts of your life that seem as though there is no room for expression. If you have an ounce of creativity in you, nurture it so that it spills into every area of your life, to parts where you never thought art could be made. Use what is around you and make something weird, something rubbish, but something new.

You can view more of Reilly’s artwork on their Instagram page: @smileyreillyyy_

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

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