Talented pupils wow Art Institute judges
A stunning array of almost 100 works of art has gone on display at Paisley Museum.
They are all entries to Paisley Art Institute Schools’ Competition, and range in subject matter from everything from portraits to still life drawings.
And it was a brilliant still life featuring fruit and a teapot by Johnstone High pupil Shona Cairns that was named overall winner.
Her intricate work is an example of pointillism, which creates a picture out of tiny little dots of paint, and was most famously practised by French postImpressionist Georges Seurat.
Paisley Art Institute president David Sutton was delighted with the standard of entries.
He said: “It ’ s an annual competition and it runs parallel with the annual exhibition we have.
“Our 129th exhibition was opened just about two weeks ago, and the school competition is generally facilitated a week or two after the main exhibition.
“It’s to encourage budding talent.”
Lesley Hinde, secretary of Paisley Art Institute and organiser of the schools competition, said there was no theme to the works submitted.
“We have some primary work that is based on a book they are reading, we’ve got some underwater scenes, we’ve got lots of still lifes and some design work from some of the high schools, as well and some really nice prints — every material, every medium, all we do is restrict size,” she said.
“We’ve managed to hang 80 works. “It’s all really interesting. “Lots of different themes and mediums have been used.”
As well as Shona, the winners were Rubi Mitchell, of St Columba’s School, Kilmacolm (primary four to seven), with all of Paisley’s Heriot Primary four to seven classes taking the runner-up place.
Sarah Feechan, of Gryffe High, Houston, was the S1 to S3 winner, with Gryffe’s Libby Cole the runner-up.
Lauren McLean, of Linwood High, was the S4 to S6 runner-up, having been pipped to the post by Shona in first place.