Painting Competition | Winner Announcement | Watchful Militia | July 2026

These entries were voted as this month's top 3 by the members of our community Discord server - congratulations!

Our first Rookie League winner combined a Brute Guard with the Improvised Barricades to create a diorama full of subtle storytelling. At first glance, the guard appears to be proudly watching over the defences, but hidden beneath the barricade, a tiny Goblin Grunt quietly tunnels underneath completely unnoticed. 

It's a clever narrative twist that rewards observant viewers and the creative conversion work required to conceal the goblin makes the result even more impressive. Realistic wood textures, convincing mud effects and natural weathering all contribute to a grounded, believable setting, while the subdued palette keeps the focus firmly on the unfolding story.

This was also Uvemode's first diorama project, making the finished result all the more impressive. Excellent work!

Our second Rookie League winner created an entertaining and wonderfully characterful diorama. Using two Brute Guards, a Town Guard, members of the Peasant Rabble and sections of the Improvised Barricades, they built an original scene that immediately tells a story.

The composition feels lively from every angle, with colourful details, expressive posing and excellent use of the terrain pieces creating a bustling slice of life that perfectly suits the release. Every miniature contributes to the narrative, making this a fun, dynamic and memorable interpretation of The Watchful Militia.

Our final Rookie League winner focused on a single Brute Guard, creating a piece rich in atmosphere and restrained colour.

A muted palette of earthy browns, worn metals and desaturated greens immediately establishes the grim tone of the Empire, while subtle complementary reds and greens across the guard's clothing draw the eye without overpowering the composition. Behind the miniature stands a heavily weathered gate featuring beautifully executed rust effects, adding both depth and context to the scene.

The restrained palette, atmospheric backdrop and convincing weathering come together to create a scene that feels right at home in the world of Bestiarum.

This month's Veteran League winner selected by the Bestiarum Team is stephenas1 with "The Peasants are Revolting (No Just Ugly)"!

Using the Peasant Rabble, stephenas1 created a lively protest scene that immediately captures the spirit of The Watchful Militia. The peasants surge forwards with expressive faces and improvised protest signs, while subtle conversions and carefully arranged poses give the group a real sense of movement and energy.

The muted palette perfectly suits the common folk of the Empire, with natural earth tones, weathered clothing and beautifully painted shields giving each character its own identity without disrupting the cohesion of the group. Small touches of blood add just enough grit, while the natural basing helps ground the scene.

The custom protest signs are undoubtedly the highlight of the piece. Built from wire and plasticard, they feature humorous slogans that add a playful nod to Monty Python while fitting surprisingly well within the world of Bestiarum. It's a creative, characterful entry that stood out for both its execution and originality.

Congratulations, stephenas1!

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their work throughout the month. We loved following your progress and seeing all the different ways you interpreted this release.

If you'd like to participate in next month's competition, make sure to join our Discord server, head on over to the Monthly Competition channel and check out the rules in the pinned messages!