Stody Lodge Gardens and the Animal Art Fair are delighted to announce the three winners of the Stody Animal Art Fair Young Talent Awards:

In the year 4 category, Jesse Brown of Corpusty Primary School was selected by the Animal Art Fair panel for his excellent use of colour and different mediums in his delightful depiction of a frog floating in bubbling blue-green water.

In the year 5 category, Carys Thaxster of Astley Primary School was chosen for her ambitious use of foreshortening and perspective and anatomically accurate drawing of two beautiful kestrels.

In the year 6 category, William Stoppani of Beeston Hall Preparatory School stood out for his remarkably lifelike painting of a kingfisher. His energetic use of paint perfectly depicted the movement of the bird’s wings and the beady gleam of its eye.

Five North Norfolk primary schools were invited to take part in the Stody Animal Art Fair Young Talent Awards as part of the Animal Art Fair Spring Exhibition at Stody Lodge Gardens this May. Years 4, 5 and 6 at Astley Primary School, Holt Community Primary School, Corpusty Primary School, Beeston Hall Preparatory School and Greshams Preparatory School have in the past two weeks been hard at work creating beautiful depictions of animals, birds or fish in any frameable medium. The 45 finalists were exhibited at a fun-packed day at Stody Lodge on Sunday 10th May with children coming to admire their art and enjoy the pony rides, petting zoo, goat show and treasure hunt throughout Stody’s 14-acre gardens.

Jamie Polk, founder of the Animal Art Fair, selected the three winners from each year group and has invited the three winning paintings to be hung for sale alongside the works of some of the UK’s leading animal artists as part of the Animal Art Fair Spring Exhibition from 17th May – 25th May.

Jamie Polk, said: ‘I was very impressed by the strong lines and unfettered approach taken by these young artists – it shows just exactly how children see life and wildlife around them. It was very hard to choose but all three pictures will be a welcome addition to the works of the UK’s leading animal artists as part of our Spring Exhibition at Stody Lodge Gardens next week.’

Kate MacNicol of Stody Lodge Gardens, said: ‘The standard of art work was really very high with a huge variety of different mediums and approaches to representing wildlife. We are delighted that the Animal Art Fair has inspired our local primary school children to be so creative. With the three winning paintings being hung for sale in the Spring Exhibition, we are very hopeful that this could be a fantastic start to a budding art career.”