Drawing changes lives

This October, dust off your pencils and get stuck in.

Whether you can barely draw a stick man or you are the next Leonardo Da Vinci, we are inviting you to draw for HHUGS as part of The Big Draw Festival which runs from the 1st – 31st of October. 

Although, you may have left behind your drawing days long ago,  there are many benefits to drawing to inspire you to get started again. These benefits include increased brain activity, stress relief, improved motor skills, improved creativity and self-esteem.

Competition theme

The theme of our drawing competition is: separation

The feeling of separation is something HHUGS households are all too familiar with.  Spouses, parents and children are separated from one another, in the blink of an eye.  Some are taken from their beds in the dark the night, arrested in the early hours as the children watch them being dragged away in handcuffs. Others are taken far from their families, to cities hundreds of miles from home, unable to see their spouses and children.

This feeling of separation is something we may have experienced. Due to the current pandemic, many of us have been separated from our loved ones for months earlier this year. Although this may only be temporary, we struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But HHUGS families have been suffering with separation from their loved ones for weeks, months and years –  some with no end in sight as to when they can reunite.

With this theme in mind, we would like you to create an image of what separation means to you.  It can be about your own personal feeling of separation or you can interpret the situation our families go through.

Let your imagination run wild this October on your canvas or notepad. Whether you prefer to go monochrome with pencil or charcoal, or use coloured pencils or crayons, if you want a splash of colour with pastels and markers, or prefer to venture into the world of acrylic, oils or watercolour – whatever medium you wish to use, it’s entirely up to you!


Whatever your age, whatever your ability, we want to hear from you!

There is no right or wrong answer as to what separation looks like. We encourage you to interpret it as you see fit.

How to enter

Complete the form and upload your entry here by 31st October 2020

Competition guidelines

  1. Entries will be judged in three categories: 5-11 years old; 12-18 years old; 19+ year
  2. Prizes will be awarded for the winners in each category
  3. All entries should be on the theme specified.
  4. Your entries will be judged in the first two weeks of November by a panel of judges.
  5. All entries must be the entrant’s original work
  6. Entries should not contain any profanities, any statement or image which could be construed as incitement to or promotion of hatred, violence, any criminal act.

The Big Draw

The Big Draw charity was a founded in 2000. They established the Big Draw Festival which is the world’s biggest celebration of drawing.

The Festival is made up of thousands of creative events, activities and workshops across the globe hosted by organisations big and small; from individuals to entire cities! Do you want to be part of the World’s Biggest Drawing Festival? Find out more here.