10-year-old Ashton Whitaker from Hull wins competition to have drawing displayed on the cover of the Big Issue

A ‘marvellous menagerie’ of endangered animals drawn by a 10-year-old from Hull features on the cover of this week’s Big Issue, out today (Monday 14 April).

Ashton Whitaker has been chosen as the winner of Big Issue’s latest kids cover competition, which invited children aged 13 and under to submit eye-catching designs with an environmental theme.

10-year-old Whitaker said: “I was surprised when I was told I won but it feels good.

“I wanted to draw animals that are nearly extinct to inspire people to save them. These are some of the ones I really like. Hammerhead sharks are hunted for their fins, so I wanted to show that the hammerhead has been injured from humans fishing.

With Earth Day falling next week (22 April), Whitaker added: “Earth Day is important because it lets people know how they can help protect the planet and the animals.”

Chief judge and Big Issue ambassador Chris Packham said: “It’s a bright and bold mosaic of different creatures – everything from manatees to dolphins in the sea. You’ve got the hammerhead, orangutans, the rhino in there as well. The composition is strong, it’s colourful and framed nicely. It’s really clever, as if the plants had grown onto the letters.”

Big Issue received hundreds of submissions from across the UK. Other shortlisted designs are also printed within the pages of this week’s Big Issue, including an alien invasion drawn by 8-year-old JJ Bishop from Truro and a beach-set ‘art attack’ using washed-up material made by Robyn Maydew, an 11-year-old from Helensburgh.

6-year-old Nola Burns from Bournemouth was one of the youngest entrants to make the shortlist. She was just 5 when she drew her flamingo design on the floor of Worthing Hospital while visiting her ill grandmother.

Nola’s father Chris Burns said: “Nola really wanted me to enter her flamingo drawing into the competition. Nola drew the flamingo on the floor of her granny’s room in Worthing hospital. Nola’s much beloved granny and my mum died from cancer the following morning. Nola being there and drawing such beautiful pictures really lifted the room.

“When I told Nola she needed to include the words BIG ISSUE, she drew the rainbow. I’m very proud of her for wanting to enter and working so hard on her pictures.”

Big Issue Editor Paul McNamee said: “It’s always a joy when entries for the cover competition flood in. The ideas never fail to knock us sideways. I’m delighted Chris joined us as lead judge – I’m glad the decision lay with him! Thanks to every young person, their parents, grandparents, teachers and carers who helped them. It’s great to see such hope and interest in Big Issue – and in the future.”

You can buy this week’s Big Issue from street vendors across the UK now, or subscribe online at bigissue.com.