This past weekend at SPIEL in Essen, the Golden Demon competition took center stage, drawing talented miniature painters from across the world. The event is massive for hobbyists, and for many, the Slayer Sword—the ultimate prize in miniature painting—is the pinnacle of artistic achievement.
This year’s Slayer Sword winner was Dave Perryman, who stunned the judges and audience alike with an absolutely flawless Trugg the Troggoth King. The level of detail and craftsmanship was next-level, and it’s no surprise that Dave walked away with the coveted prize after two and a half months of intense work, sometimes painting up to 10 hours a day. That’s dedication!
Dave’s Winning Piece: The Trugg the Troggoth King
Dave’s Trugg was painted to perfection, with equal care given to every single part of the model, even the hidden details most people wouldn’t notice. For many of us painters, we tend to skip those hard-to-see spots—but not Dave! He even took on the added challenge of a resin pour for a running waterfall, which is no easy feat.
The inspiration for the model came from the lore of Trugg awakening from his slumber deep within a cave, and Dave fully captured that dank, gloomy environment with his base design. From the little Bat Squigs flying around to the textured rockwork, everything works together to tell a story. Plus, he handled the whole piece with gloves to protect the paintjob—talk about precision!
The Competition and What’s Next
While only one person can claim the Slayer Sword, there were hundreds of jaw-dropping entries this year across various categories. In the coming weeks, Commended entries—those pieces that were in the running for trophies—will be showcased, and we’re bound to see more incredible work.
Congrats again to Dave for his well-deserved win! Whether you’re a painter or just a fan of miniatures, seeing what artists like him can do with these models is truly inspiring. Time to dust off the brushes, right?
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