Teenage girl crowned '˜Young Artist of The Year'

Lytham High School student Kelsey Lester, 15, took home first prize ahead of 27 other artists at the competition at Blackpool and The Fylde College this month.

The teenager won with her pencil drawing of a young boy clothed in a long, ragged coat.

She said: “I called it ‘The Lost Boy’ and it was about children experiencing poverty.

“I couldn’t believe it and I was really shocked because there was such a wide range of talent from people across the Fylde.

“The standard was high and that’s why I was so shocked.

“The organisers said it was the most difficult year they’d had deciding a winner so I was thrilled.”

As well as taking home the cup, Kelsey, who lives at Peel hill, won £100 worth of vouchers to spend on art supplies at Blackpool and The Fylde Colllege.

She said: “I have always enjoyed art from a young age and I have always wanted to do it in the future as a second job.

“My family support me 100 per cent and my teachers encouraged me to enter the competition along with some other pupils in my class.”

Her mum Julie Lester, 48, said: “She has always been into art since she was very little and there was no doubt about it that she would take it as a GCSE.

“She comes into her own with pencils and pen drawings, as opposed to paintings.

“She put a lot of work in to get it to perfection.

“We didn’t even know it was a competition; we thought it was just an exhibition.

“I’m over the moon for her.”