Local young aspiring artist wins national painting competition...(16th November 2009)
Dylan Cox aged ten from Hitchin has been selected as the national winner in Sightsavers International's annual Junior Painter of the Year Awards 2009.
Dylan's painting, selected from almost 15,000 entries submitted by aspiring young artists from across the UK, will be displayed in a special exhibition at the world-famous Royal Academy of Arts in London alongside one-off self portraits by famous artist and illustrator, Quentin Blake CBE and Professor Maurice Cockrill RA, the Keeper of the Royal Academy of Arts.
The theme for the competition, now in its fourth year and run by development charity Sightsavers, was 'How I See Myself', with the aim of raising awareness of the issue of global blindness. Dylan attends Kingshott Primary School and his painting, titled 'A Three Eyed Elephant Head Monster', captured his interest in drawing futuristic alien-like creatures. Dylan was selected as a national winner in the Upper Junior category.
Jo Mitchell, Schools Development Manager for Sightsavers International, commented: "I am astounded by the number of entries we received this year and am thrilled to be exhibiting the winners once again at the Royal Academy. This year's winners have shown real creative flare and imagination and we can't wait to see their original and inspired paintings on display, helping us to raise awareness of the scale of preventable blindness in the world."
Professor Maurice Cockrill who has been supporting the competition since it’s inception commented on Dylan's painting: "This three-eyed elephant head monster was certainly one of the most idiosyncratic images we saw; extremely inventive and varied and has a full range of rather startling colours and shapes."
Dylan's painting will be displayed in the 'How I See Myself' exhibition which will be open daily in the café at the Royal Academy of Arts from 24th of October to the 18th November 2009 and entrance is free. You will also be able to view Dylan's and all the other winning paintings at our online gallery by visiting: www.sightsavers.org/juniorpainter
(select Flickr link).
Sightsavers is working through local partners in over thirty countries to prevent blindness amongst both adults and children and restore sight. 45 million people in the world are blind, 1.4 million of whom are children, yet 75% of blindness is avoidable. In the developing world, over 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not go to school.
For the latest news, campaigns, competitions and activity ideas visit Sightsavers, Kidzone and Teacherzone websites at www.sightsavers.org/schools | 
