PACK & SEND Art of the Year Shows Strength of Courier Franchise Brand

PACK & SEND’s 2026 Art of the Year competition has named North Yorkshire artist Nga Ngo Quynh as overall winner, with Sheena Bulpitt from Berkshire in second place and Selina Maden from Burnley in third.

For prospective franchise partners, the competition shows how PACK & SEND connects national brand activity with specialist shipping, local stories and real customer communities.

The competition supports emerging UK artists. It also reinforces the commercial position of PACK & SEND as a franchise model built around fragile, valuable, large and unusual shipments.

A national competition with local franchise relevance

The 2026 Art of the Year competition was won by Nga Ngo Quynh, a Malton-based artist originally from Hanoi, Vietnam. Her winning work, Before the Night Falls, uses soft pastel to explore landscape, atmosphere, memory and transition.

Second place went to Sheena Bulpitt from Upton Lea, Berkshire, for A Certain Sense of Self. Her work explores identity, connection, form and expression, shaped by her recovery after a 2016 road traffic accident.

Third place went to Selina Maden from Burnley, who creates wildlife art and pet portraits. Her work focuses on the playful spirit of animals and is sold through commissions, fairs and markets.

For franchise candidates, these stories matter. They show how PACK & SEND works with real customers in creative, local and specialist markets.

Why this matters to a courier franchise opportunity

Many courier businesses compete mainly on price, speed and postcode coverage. PACK & SEND has a wider proposition.

The brand specialises in shipments that need extra care. These include fine art, antiques, musical instruments, IT equipment, electronics, furniture, lab equipment, medical equipment and international consignments.

That gives franchise partners a stronger local offer than basic parcel delivery alone. A PACK & SEND centre can support artists, galleries, antique dealers, ecommerce sellers, collectors, students, families and businesses with complex shipping needs.

Specialist shipping creates stronger customer relationships

When a customer needs to send a valuable painting, antique chair, musical instrument, server, medical device or international consignment, they often need advice as well as delivery.

This is where the PACK & SEND model stands out. Franchise partners are not simply selling labels. They are helping customers choose packing, protection, courier services and shipping routes that fit the item.

That service-led approach creates more opportunities for repeat business. It also helps franchise partners become known locally as specialist shipping providers.

PACK & SEND’s art shipping authority

PACK & SEND is an approved service provider to LAPADA, the UK’s largest association of professional art and antiques dealers.

The brand is also a preferred supplier of art shipping services to galleries, collectors, dealers, artists and exhibitions around the world.

PACK & SEND has handled the packing and shipping of artworks by world-renowned artists including Banksy, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Tracey Emin and Jeff Koons.

For franchise candidates, that authority matters. It gives the brand credibility in specialist markets where trust, care and reputation are important.

How Art of the Year supports franchise brand growth

The Art of the Year competition gives PACK & SEND a meaningful story to tell each year. It supports up-and-coming artists and gives the brand visibility in the UK art community.

It also gives local centres a reason to talk to artists, galleries, collectors, framers, universities, auction houses and creative businesses.

In 2026, the competition highlights three different artist stories: Nga Ngo Quynh’s atmospheric landscapes, Sheena Bulpitt’s figurative work shaped by recovery and identity, and Selina Maden’s wildlife and pet portrait commissions.

That range reflects the breadth of customers who may need specialist packing and shipping support.

A franchise model built around practical demand

PACK & SEND provides postal, freight, courier, packing and removal services through a national service centre network.

The business specialises in the shipment of fragile, large, unusual and valuable items. That creates demand from both personal and business customers.

Typical customer needs can include:

• fine art shipping
• antiques and collectables
• fragile and valuable items
• international shipping
• furniture and household goods
• IT and electronics
• musical instruments
• student moves
• freight and business shipments

This mix gives franchise partners several routes to local revenue. It also reduces reliance on one narrow parcel-delivery audience.

What prospective franchise partners can take from the 2026 competition

The Art of the Year competition is a brand story, but it is also a commercial signal.

It shows that PACK & SEND has a clear role in markets where customers need trust, service and care. Artwork is a good example because it is often fragile, valuable and personal.

For anyone researching a courier franchise in the UK, this is the difference between joining a general delivery business and joining a specialist shipping brand with a clearer position.

Find out more

To learn more about becoming a PACK & SEND franchise partner, visit PACK & SEND Franchise UK.

To find out more about PACK & SEND’s customer shipping services, visit PACK & SEND UK.

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