Young Antrim artist, Charley Bell, a 17-year-old student at Methodist College Belfast, has been chosen overall winner of this year's 70th Texaco Children's Art Competition, taking first prize in the senior 16-18 years age category.
Her winning work, for which she received a prize of €1,500, is entitled ‘Anticipation’ and is a painstakingly detailed portrait study in coloured pencils.
In choosing it as the overall prize winner in the competition, final adjudicator Gary Granville described Charley’s artwork as “an exceptionally well executed portrait, that tells of an ‘aged serenity’, of a full life with a wealth of experience and wisdom.”
“There is a subversive energy, irrepressible optimism and underlying joy in the image that belies the stereotypical portrayal of aging. This wonderful work of art well-deserves the top award in this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition,” Professor Granville added.
No stranger to the Competition, Charley was also the overall Competition winner last year as well as winning Special Merit Awards in both 2020 and 2021.
The inspiration for her prize-winning portrait came when she discovered a photo of an old woman and felt the emotion in her face would be fascinating to bring to life.
“I like working with portraits and when I saw this photo the detailed expression on the woman’s face jumped out at me immediately. I knew it would be a challenging and interesting artwork to take on,” Charley explains.
In winning the prestigious overall prize and first place in the Category A age group, Charley and her fellow winners fought off the challenge from the young artists across Ireland who took part in the competition.
Amongst them are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners and the fifteen special merit awards recipients in each of seven categories for which prizes are presented, including a category reserved for special needs children.
In Category A (16-18 years), other top winners were Donegal student, Weronika Jarowinska (age 16), a pupil at Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny who won second prize (€1,000) for her work entitled ‘Man to Machine’.
Third prize (€750) went to Clare student, Eimear Fitzgerald (age 16), a pupil at Ennis Art School, for her work entitled ‘Best Friends’.
In Category B (14-15 years), first prize (€450) was won by Galway student, Darragh Granahan (age 15), from Gort Community School, for his work entitled ‘Unconditional Love’.
Second prize (€350) went to Donegal student, Kerri Doherty (age 15), from Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town, for her work entitled ‘Granda's Turn!’.
A previous winner, Kerri won third prize in the 12-13 years age category in 2022 and a Special Merit Award in category B last year. Third prize (€250) was won by Limerick student, David MacAodha (age 15), a pupil at Coláiste Íde Agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale, for his work entitled ‘A Forgotten Life’. David won a Special Merit Award in the 12-13 years-age category in 2021.
In Category C (12-13 years), first prize (€350) went to Mayo student, Charlotte Greham (age 12), from Breaffy National School, Ballina, for her artwork entitled ‘Inspiration’. Second prize (€250) was won by 13-years old Laois student Beth Phelan, from Paint Pots Art Group, Ballyfin, for her work entitled ‘The Farmhouse’.
Third prize (€200) went to Meath student, Nicole Doherty (age 13), from Clarke Art Studio, Ratoath, for her work entitled ‘Contemplating’. Nicole won first prize in the 9-11 years age category in 2022.
In Category F (6 years and younger) – the youngest age group in the Competition – first prize (€150) was won by 4-year old Louth student, Tadhg Traynor, from Rainbow Club, Drogheda, for his work entitled ‘Dog’.
Second prize (€125) went to Donegal student, Charles (Dominic) Gallagher (age 6), a pupil at St. Mary's National School, Lifford, for his work entitled ‘Moving Oceans’.
Last year, Charles (Dominic) also won second prize in the same age category. Third prize (€100) was won by Cork student, Sofia-May Kenefick (age 6), a pupil at Blarney Street C.B.S., for her work entitled ‘The Emotion Picture’.
You can look at all the winners below.
