Named after the award given during the annual competition of same name, the Golden Demon is a real world event sponsored by Games Workshop, which describes such entries as "the absolute pinnacle of miniatures painting, demonstrating the very best work of the very best painters."[1a]
The Golden Demon competition has been held since 1987 in the United Kingdom, since 1991 in the USA, since 1997 in France and in other countries more recently. The competition is named for the first prize trophy in each category, the Golden Demon. The Golden Demon trophy itself is a figurine of a horned demon painted gold, posed with its arms crossed over its chest in a manner somewhat reminiscent of an Academy Awards "Oscar"). Silver and Bronze Demon trophies are given for second and third places, respectively in each category.
The overall winner across all categories at the event receives the "Slayer Sword", an actual full-size broadsword about 5 feet in length from hilt to tip. The competition measures the skills of painting and modelling, since conversions and alterations of existing miniatures are encouraged.
Territorial Differences
In Australia the Golden Demon competition is slightly different: entrants take their models to a Games Workshop store on a specified day. The best 3 in each category in the store gain a place in the regional finals and the best 3 in each category there gain a place in the national finals in Sydney. Starting in 2007, the Australian Golden Demon has included an "Intermediate" category. This category is open to painters aged 15-17, and has both the Warhammer Fantasy and 40k miniatures combined.
Slayer Sword Winners
UK 1987 "The chalice of doom" by Ivan Bartleet
UK 1988 "Barbarian War Mammoth" by Ivan Bartleet
UK 1989 nameless entry by Steve Blunt
UK 1991 nameless entry by Paul Robbins
UK 1992 nameless entry by Paul Robins
USA 1992 "Chaos Centaur" by Canadian Marc Dance
UK 1993 nameless entry by Paul McArthy
USA 1995 nameless entry by Jeff Wilhelm
USA 1996 nameless entry by David Upham
UK 1997 nameless entry by Adrian Wink
USA 1997 nameless entry by Canadian Jocelyn Goyette
USA 1998 nameless entry by Jeff Wilson
AUS 1998 by Leigh Carpenter
UK 1999 by Danish Jakob Nielsen
DE 1999 "Kemmlers Workbench" by British Michael Jacobsen
UK 2000 diorama by Matt Parkes
DE 2000 by Tom Weiss
UK 2001 "Slaaneshi Warband" by Chris Blair
AUS 2001 "The Rescue of Sister Joan" by Victoria Lamb
DE 2001 by Alexander Elpus
2001 ES Barcelona by Felipe Rodriguez
AUS 2002 "Vampire" by Glen Lamprecht
DE 2002 "Général Ork Monster" by Austrian Daniel Huber
UK 2003 "Chaos Knights" by Danish Jakob Rune Nielsen
USA 2003 Los Angeles "Braagarth the Lascivious" by Lilliana Troy
DE 2003 "Nagash" by Florian Kniep
ITL 2003 by Luca Massetti
UK 2004 "Chaos Marauder" by French Jacques Alexandre Gillois
USA 2004 Chicago "Ariel" by Canadian Ben Bishop
Also USA 2004 Chicago by Joe Slaboda
USA 2004 Los Angeles "Bretonnian Pegasus Knight" by Lilliana Troy
USA 2004 Atlanta by Canadian Ben Bishop
AUS 2004 by Glen Lamprecht
DE 2004 "Marissa Von Sonhan" by French Jérémie Bonamant Teboul
ES 2004 Barcelona by Ignacio Pineda
ITL 2004 by Matteo Murelli
USA 2005 Chicago "Oath Keeper Slayer vs Troll" by Chris Borer
Also USA 2005 Chicago "Halfling" by Tim Lison
USA 2005 Baltimor "Ironskin Irongutz" by Dave Taylor
USA 2005 Atlanta "Sorceress of the Wood, Beast Friend" by Jeff Wilson
FR 2005 "Grallapoussah De Barback" by Jérémie Bonamant Teboul
UK 2006 "Black Orc Warboss" by Spanish Albert Moretó Font
USA 2006 Atlanta "Elryonn the Shifter" by Jeff Wilson
USA 2006 Baltimore "Beastmen Warherd" by Todd Swanson p1
USA 2006 Baltimore "Beastmen Warherd" by Todd Swanson p2
Also USA 2006 Baltimore "Zombie Giant" by Jake Landis
USA 2006 Chicago "Necromancer" by Tim Lison
USA 2006 Los Angeles "Necrarch Vampire" by Mark Harrison
CAN 2006 "Ogre Maneater" by French Jérémie Bonamant Teboul
DE 2006 "Orion" by Stephan Rath
ITL 2006 "Beelakor" by Francesco Farabi
USA 2007 Atlanta "Stone Troll - Trogdor Necksnappa" by Todd Swanson
USA 2007 Chicago "Champion of Nurgle" by Tim Lison
FR 2007 "Daemonette" by Allan Carrasco
DE 2007 "Landsknecht" by Sascha Buczek
CAN 2008 by French Thierry Husser
FR 2008 "Dwarf Slayer" by David Waeselynck
UK 2009 "The Clockmaker" by Ben Jarvis
USA 2009 Baltimore "Mutants of Nurgle" by Dylan Gauker
USA 2009 Chicago by Jeffrey Harrison Bowden
1/60
1987
UK Category 1: Fantasy Army, "Skaven Warband" by Unknown Artist
UK Category 2: Dragons, "Orc Cheif on Kegox" by Unknown Artist
UK Category 3: Vignette, "The chalice of doom" by Ivan Bartleet
UK Category 4: Single Miniature, "Complete Adventurer" by Unknown Artist
UK Category 5: Monster, "Thug Ogre" by Unknown Artist
UK Category 6: Mounted Miniature, "Orc Cheiftain on War Boar" by Kevin Adams