Pupils paint a good picture
Kids praised in art competition
Young artists from West Lothian showed their artistic side when they won praise in a major competition.
The Tesco Bank Art Competition for Schools, delivered by the National Galleries of Scotland, saw Christopher-Jacc Nichol and Knightsridge Primary School win prizes at the ceremony at the Scottish National Gallery in the Capital.
Their artwork also went on display to the public for the first time.
Christopher-Jacc took Special Merit for his entry ‘Circus’ and Knightsridge Primary School took third place in the Group Category.
There were 281 entries from West Lothian this year, from seven schools in the area.
Each year, the art competition attracts entries from children in every area in Scotland, with some of the amazing works in the National Galleries’ collection specially chosen to provide inspiration.
This year there were more than 7500 entries, ensuring a difficult judging process for the panel.
Fifty- three winning young artists were commended in their respective categories at t h e special awards ceremony at the Scottish National Gallery.
All prize-winning entries will remain on show at the gallery until October 27, before being displayed at Borders General Hospital, Melrose and Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.
In addition, schools are benefitting from funded special artist-led workshops and a grant to help supply art materials to schools in most need.
Linda McClelland, Playfair Education Co- ordinator at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “This is the most exciting time in the competition – even more exciting that seeing all of the entries coming together at the judging stage. It’s wonderful to watch the reaction of the children and their families as they see for the first time their prizewinning pictures hanging at the Scottish National Gallery.
“As ever, the standard of works on show is very, very high – the talent and imagination of our young artists never fails to amaze me.”
Adele Mills, Senior Community Investment Manager at Tesco Bank, added: “There have been plenty of smiles here today, at the fantastic prize giving ceremony at the National Gallery in Edinburgh.
“We are committed to giving children opportunities to express their creativity, and on behalf of Tesco Bank I’d like to congratulate all 53 winners of the Competition and to thank the thousands of other children who entered and made the judging process so difficult. Everyone really is a winner.”