34th Annual Painting Competition Winners 2023

The Gibraltar Heritage Trust held its 34th Annual Painting Competition on Saturday 13th May and we are pleased to announce the winners. We were delighted to see many artists return this year as well as some new artists join in the competition. Participants had the opportunity to choose a view of the walls between Ragged Staff Gate and Charles V Wall which included South Bastion Wall, South Port Gate and Prince Edward’s Gate. Our slogan this year was ‘What a country chooses to save, is what a country chooses to say about itself’ to highlight the fast-paced change to our urban landscape and the threat of losing elements of our architectural heritage. By drawing attention to these walls through the medium of art we trust that participants, and all those who view their work, will come to appreciate the variety in our landscape, come to value it and be inspired by it. 

The artworks created are once again of an extremely high calibre, making the adjudication quite a task for our judges. There are four categories of winners: Infants aged 6 & under, Children aged between 7 & 10, Juniors aged 11 to 17 and Adults 18 & over. 

The Trust would like to thank the judges John-Paul Bautista, John Langdon, and Manolo Galliano.


Judges (from left to right): John-Paul Bautista from Ace Art, John Langdon and Manolo Galliano

All entries were painted live on location between 09:00am and 17:00pm, however this year due to the heavy rainfall, artists were allowed to complete their paintings at home. School entries, including artworks from Giorann Henshaw’s Art Class, were completed in the week leading up to the main event with a short history of the walls and area also being given to participants by Manolo Galliano.


Manolo Galliano teaching the children  from St. Joseph's Lower Primary School about the southern defences before they began drawing.

Students from Giorann Henshaw's Art Class drawing on site in the week leading up to the main event.

Below are the results and prizes for this year’s winners.

The first prize of £1,000 in the adult category was sponsored by Gibraltar Cultural Services.

The prizes were presented by Minister for Heritage, The Hon Dr. John Cortes and Chairman of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, Ian Balestrino, at the exhibition opening on 24th May.

Our winners with Minister for Heritage, Dr. John Cortes and GHT Chairman, Ian Balestrino

All entries are on display in the Lower Exhibition Room at the John Mackintosh Hall from Thursday 25th May to Friday 2nd June, 09:00hrs to 18:00hrs. Entrance is Free.

Adult 1st Prize was awarded to Paul Passano

Adult 2nd Prize was awarded to Jenna Lopez

Adult 3rd Prize was awarded to Francisco Aurelio Arguez Garcia


Caroline Canessa came Highly Commended in the Adult Section


Leslie Gaduzo came Highly Commended in the Adult Section


Sebastian Rodriguez came Highly Commended in the Adult Section

Junior 1st Prize was awarded to Stella Bosano (15 years). She also received the David Gladstone prize for most promising artist for this painting.


Junior 2nd Prize was also awarded to Stella Bosano.

Junior 3rd Prize was awarded to Lubov Estella (14 years)

Sophia Povedano (14 years) came Highly Commended in the Junior Section

Children 1st Prize was awarded to Matylda Jacek (7 years)

Children 2nd Prize was awarded to Rylan Debono (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Children 3rd Prize was awarded to Corey Bensusan (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Lucia Sene came Highly Commended in the Children Section (Giorann Henshaw's Art Class)

Ada Vincent came Highly Commended in the Children Section (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Leon Bado came Highly Commended in the Children Section (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Infant 1st Prize was awarded to James Ferro (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Infant 2nd Prize was awarded to Alex Beiso (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Infant 3rd Prize was awarded to Emily Gil (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Alma Bokhari came Highly Commended in the Infant Section (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Aurelia Nieroda came Highly Commended in the Infant Section (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)

Nour Bouhaltit came Highly Commended in the Infant Section (St. Joseph's Lower Primary School)