School's Spring pictures are winners at Newbury gallery

Francis Baily Primary School has run an art competition for its pupils with the theme of 'Spring' and the winners are currently being showcased in Howarth's Gallery window, along London Road, Newbury, for the duration of the Easter holidays.

Gallery owner Claire Howarth said: "The school is currently really promoting art with the pupils and we are showing them that some people can make a living out of art and encouraging them to follow their creative dreams."

Year 2 teacher at the Thatcham school Beth Wolfe-Collins said: "As a school we encourage all areas of our children’s learning. We love having opportunities to inspire our children to use their creativity and to display their many talents.

"We were thrilled when Claire Howarth offered her gallery window as a prize for one of our art competitions.

"We asked the children to get creative at home and bring in a larger scale artwork based around the theme of spring.

"The children have been very excited about this competition.

"They have gone above and beyond and we had a huge amount of very impressive entries."

The winners were Elliott, Emma, Laila and the overall winner was Maisie.

Claire Howarth said that working together with Francis Baily Primary School has been a "lovely" experience.

"It is a great privilege to be able to showcase the children’s artwork in the gallery," she said.

"To show them that art can be appreciated by others as well as themselves, to help encourage their creativeness and sense of pride with their achievements.

"It was extremely hard picking out winners among the entries. They were all amazing.

"But the four I picked, I thought could hold their own in the gallery window.

"They are bright bold, and all have a different perspective of spring.

"I welcome everyone to pop down to the gallery and have a look."