Draw your dad for Father’s Day.

Following the huge success of our Draw your Mum project, The Courier is inviting children across the region to surprise their dads for Father’s Day. Caroline Lindsay speaks to one boy who did just that

He’ll be bouncing off the walls when he sees it

Thousands of youngsters all over Courier Country took part in our hugely successful Draw Your Mum project earlier this year to show just how special their mums were.

We received an amazing 4,381 drawings from 106 primary schools and printed each and every one in a series of souvenir supplements in the run up to Mother’s Day.

Now it’s the turn of the dads as we set out to make Draw Your Dad even bigger. The Courier is inviting all pupils in primaries three and four to draw a picture of their father, along with a short message to be published in the paper in the days before Father’s Day on June 18.

Welcome packs have been sent to all local primary schools this week bearing a colourful logo designed by Mackenzie Longden.

Mackenzie, a pupil at Craigie Primary School in Perth, drew this great picture of his father Mark for last year’s Draw Your Dad project, along with the message “You are the best dad in the world,” and we have chosen it to inspire pupils all over the region to get to work on their own masterpieces.

Mark, who works for a building supplies company, was chuffed to bits to hear his son’s drawing had been chosen.

“I’m really excited for Mackenzie as I know he’ll be bouncing off the walls when he sees it,” he said. “He’s certainly captured my expression and even remembered the company logo on my jumper.

“I’m proud of him for taking part in last year’s project and I know he’ll be getting involved with his classmates again this year.”

Mackenzie, nine, and younger brother Oliver aren’t the only members of the family to go to Craigie Primary – the boys’ mum Michelle also went there.

“It’s a really lovely school and the teachers are great,” says Mark. “It goes without saying that whatever projects the school runs I want my children to get stuck in and get involved. It’s great training for life and gives them confidence and the ability to get on with others.”

There’s no doubt Mark is a hands-on dad. Although he works long hours, he dedicates most of his spare time to the boys, including running a football club with other parents on Saturday mornings.

“They’re over the moon when I’m on holiday,” he laughs.

“You have to give your time to them – it’s vital. Whenever they want to explore something new, I want to be there helping them through it.”

Artistic talent seems to run in the Longden family – Mark’s brother Jonathan won a prize for his drawing of an owl when he was a lad.

Mackenzie is thrilled his picture has been chosen and has a few tips for creating a portrait to be proud of. “Do a sketch in pencil first so you can rub out any mistakes and then colour it in brightly,” he suggests.

So what treats might Mackenzie and Oliver have up their sleeves for their dad on Father’s Day?

“Last year they gave me a quad biking experience at Crieff Hydro, which was fantastic,” said Mark. “They like nothing more than a boys’ day so it might be a day at Knockhill or at the football.”

Welcome packs should be arriving with schools any day now. If you have not received yours by Monday please contact Sharon Methven at smethven@ dcthomson.co.uk

It’s completely free to enter Draw Your Dad, with no cost to the pupils or the school to take part. It’s only one entry per child, but as not all youngsters have a dad who’s around, we’re more than willing for them to draw the important male figure in their life and we will leave that to the discretion of the class teacher.

Drawings must be on the template provided in the welcome pack but teachers can photocopy more of these sheets if needed. We recommend using bold colours – crayons and felt tip pens show up best in print.

Try to get the picture in the centre of the template provided and make it as large as possible within the available space.

Please remember to include the school participation form complete with your contact details and send the pictures to Draw Your Dad, Newspaper Marketing, DC Thomson & Co. Ltd, 2 Albert Square, Dundee DD1 1DD.

The closing date for entries is Friday May 19.

Picture: Gareth Jennings.

Mackenzie Longden shows off his winning Draw your Dad design with proud parents Mark and Michelle and five year old brother Oliver.