Children's royally good artwork blooms on display
A new children’s art exhibition in Newcastle town centre is celebrating the life of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
Outstanding depictions of corgis, horses and Paddington Bear are among 60 winning entries in a Britain in Bloom painting competition – organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council – that are currently on display at Keele in Town.
The theme of this year’s contest, “The Life of Queen Elizabeth II”, invited youngsters to think about the many aspects of the late Queen’s life and her connection to the natural world during the year in which she would have celebrated her 100th birthday.
The council’s Green Team had the difficult task of choosing two main winners from 1,084 entries from 18 primary, secondary and special schools across the borough.
Seabridge Primary School pupil Leah Jiang, aged eight, is the overall winner of the under 10s category for a thoughtful entry showing that Queen Elizabeth II believed in peace and caring for the environment. The artwork shows children holding hands around the earth, surrounded by animals and landmarks, conveying the message that by working together we can protect our planet and create a more peaceful world.
Meanwhile, the Dudson class – a group of 12 and 13-year-olds from Bluebell School – was crowned victorious in the over 10s section for an eye-catching 3D representation made from recycled materials including newspaper cuttings.
The council still leads on some core “bloom” activities while playing a supporting role in the borough’s Heart of England in Bloom campaign which is now co-ordinated by Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District.
Cllr. Andrew Fisher, Cabinet member for Residents’ Services and Neighbourhoods, said:
Our annual painting competition is always a popular event and this year is certainly no exception.
The late Queen’s profound love of nature, including gardening, provided a cherished escape from the pressures of royal duties, leaving a legacy of environmental awareness and an appreciation of the great outdoors. We have loved seeing the children bring her remarkable legacy to life through their amazing artwork.
Everyone who submitted an entry should feel very proud of themselves: the creativity of our young people is truly outstanding. My special congratulations go to the winners and I hope they are enjoying seeing their work on public display.”
Keele in Town is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Admission is free.
Borough Mayor Christopher Bailey will present certificates and prizes to the winners at Keele University on Wednesday, 17 June. A prize will also be awarded to the school with the highest number of winning entries.
The painting competition is sponsored by The Art Studio Gallery in Newcastle.