London art debut for talented youngsters (From York Press)

London art debut for talented youngsters

7:54am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

YOUNG artists saw their dreams come true when their paintings went on display at a prestigious London gallery.

Lawrence Mason, 11, from Pocklington School, was picked as the winner in the National Upper Junior category in an annual art contest run by development organisation Sightsavers, thanks to his work called The Ceiling Is Coming Down On To The Boy.

It was selected from thousands of entries by a judging panel led by Eileen Cooper, of the Royal Academy of Arts, for his use of colour, texture, expression and imagination. The painting is now on show at the Royal Academy until November 21 as part of the Sightsavers i:dream exhibition.

Ms Cooper said: “Lawrence’s painting is really magical, I love the brightness, and I think it’s a fantastic little picture.”

The competition aimed to promote the use of paint in classrooms while encouraging children to explore their senses and reflect on sight and blindness.

Mollie Reynolds-Johnes, six, from Darley Community Primary School, in Harrogate, was picked as the National Infants category winner for her painting of dolphins on the theme i:dream while fellow pupil Wikitoria Erdei, aged ten, was awarded a prize for her tactile painting which used layered cardboard, string and paint materials to bring her picture of a horse to life. It is being displayed to allow visitors to touch and experience it – breaking the gallery’s no-touch policy.

Ms Cooper said: “I have been very moved by all the amazing entries. It has been great to see young artists embracing painting with such enthusaiasm. I am delight to have been involved in this important project.

“I love the layering of the colours in Mollie’s painting. From her use of colour, the mixing of the blues and all the different textures. It’s very well put together. The shapes of the dolphins are beautifully made.

“Wikitoria’s tactile painting is quite intricate, with the description of the horse’s mane, its nose, the eyes and the ears.”