The John Byrne Award is a free, online exhibition, competition, and community. Anybody, over the age of 16, living or studying in Scotland is eligible to enter the competition. The Award rewards work which encourages the questioning of values appropriate to our modern age. Work on any theme, value or idea can be submitted but a good entry has to have something to say, and to say it powerfully and effectively.

It is often easy to admire the skill and artistry involved in creating beautiful sculpture and craft – however, it is less often that we stop to consider the meaning or theme of these works. As The John Byrne Award accepts creative work in all disciplines, entries are judged equally upon the quality of the creative work presented, and how well the work and entry statement is able to explore a central theme or idea.

There is an annual award of £7,500 and £500 quarterly. The Award staff use the judging criteria to review all entries and create the shortlist, announced after each quarterly competition which close in April, July and October. The panel then use the judging criteria to review the shortlist and select the winning entries. The winner is announced in the middle of May, August and November and awarded £500 in prize money.

In February 2020, there is a review of all entries received between 01 Feb 2019 and 31 Jan 2020; adding the best entries to the annual shortlist. The annual winner will be chosen from this shortlist by the panel, and announced at the Award Ceremony, in February. Any entry can win the annual Award, regardless of whether or not it has been shortlisted.

This is the first time I have entered the Award, and opted to submit one of my environmental works, 'FINIS: Will humans be the agent of their own mass extinction?'

Intended as an environmental comment, this work represents the stark reality of what the future may hold if we opt not to change our behaviours now. It is the next generation that will pay for the consequences of our actions – and inaction.