An 11-year-old schoolgirl from Sunderland has beaten over 500 entries to be crowned the winner of a national art competition.

 

Lexie, who is a Year 6 pupil at St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School, part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, created the artwork of a forgiveness tree with the phrase, ‘Healing begins when the heart forgives’.

 

The Catholic Young Artist Award, sponsored by the Catholic Union Charitable Trust, was launched this year and runs in tandem with the Catholic Young Writer Award.

 

Margaret Mizen MBE, founder of the Mizen Foundation and judge of the Catholic Young Artist Award, was overwhelmed by the pictures drawn by primary school aged children on the theme of Forgiveness.

 

 “There were so many unique and wonderful pictures, all drawn with care and attention,” she said.

 

“I was incredibly impressed by all the artwork submitted, with each piece reflecting the theme of forgiveness in a beautiful way, so selecting a winner was no easy task. 

 

“Art is a great way to express our emotions and communicate such vitally important messages including those of forgiveness.”

Margaret, who set up the Mizen Foundation with her husband Barry following the murder of her son Jimmy, said she felt “a particularly strong connection to this piece”.

 

Lexie said: "I was really shocked that I won the competition, but really happy. I felt strongly about the message as you need to mean it when you forgive someone and if it doesn't come from the heart then it isn't forgiveness."

 

Headteacher Jane Ward said: “We are so proud that Lexie is the national winner of the Catholic Artist of the Year competition. Her winning entry absolutely embodies who she is and how she lives her life and we are so privileged that she is a member of our school family.”

 

Professor Peter Hindmarsh, chair of the Catholic Union Charitable Trust, said: “I am delighted that so many children took part in the Award. Margaret had an impossible task to select the winner and we are very proud of all the children.”

 

Baroness Hollins, president of the Catholic Union, said: “The future looks bright when children can express such a difficult concept as forgiveness through art – a concept that many adults still struggle with.” 

 

For more information about St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School, visit www.stcuthbertsprimaryschool.co.uk

 

For more information about BCCET, visit www.bccet.org.uk