MORE than 500 paintings by pre-school children across Ryedale and York were on display at Terrington Hall School at the York & Area Pre-School Art Competition exhibition in which 14 children were named prize-winners.

Designed to stimulate the artistic imaginations of young minds, the competition invited pre-school children aged two to four to submit paintings or collages on the theme of the popular children’s book Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort.

The competition was launched in The Press and the Gazette & Herald in January and sponsored by Ray Chapman Motors, Ralph Yates Ltd, Rodgers of York, Minster Alarms and Terrington Hall School All entries submitted were on display in the exhibition hall where every available piece of wall space was hung, floor to ceiling, with imaginative aliens and zany underpants of every colour and description.

With the paintings to view, craft activities for the children, and a child-size alien for the children to put their faces through, there was plenty to do before the prizes were awarded by local wildlife artist Robert Fuller.

“The last time I saw these paintings they were spread out on my studio floor,” said Robert, looking round the display.

“No wonder it was so hard to pick out the winners. I was particularly impressed with the work submitted by the children at Ampleforth Community Nursery and St Aelred’s Primary School.”

Overall winner was Annabel Mindenhall of Ampleforth Community Nursery.


The winning entries

Overall winner: Annabel Mindenhall, Ampleforth Community Nursery; Best Entry Age Four: Ursie Birch, Ampleforth Community Nursery; Best Entry Age Three: Lily Smith, Wath Court Nursery; Best Entry Age Two: Lewis Lazenby, Young Discoverers Day Nursery, Escrick.

Highly Commended: Maggie Appleton, Wath Court Nursery; Kian Cooper, St Aelred’s RCVA Primary School; Shannon O’Donovan, St Aelred’s RCVA Primary School; Isabella Gordon-Finlayson, Wath Court Nursery; Marley Johansen, St Aelred’s RCVA Primary School; Elise McMillan, House Martins Day Care Centre; Lucia Mendez, Terrington Pre-School Playgroup; Matilda Rookes, Terrington Pre-School Playgroup; Lillia Wall, Wath Court Nursery; Byron Wood, Ampleforth Community Nursery