Carnoustie Academy pupil takes top art award

Kayla Porter’s top artwork took the secondary title.

Kayla Porter won the prize with her picture of a pheasant. Nathan Ramsay from Friockheim Primary won the overall primary schools’ prize with his image of a hare.

The competition was open to all pupils to create a piece of art showing a species of British game or wildlife in its natural habitat. Pupils were welcome to use any medium and encouraged to be original.

This is one of three competitions for schools that the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust runs across Scotland, with almost 1000 entries in total received from 72 different Scottish schools.

Nathan Ramsey’s winning entry of a hare.

The judging panel was led by David Adam, a highly respected Scottish artist who also writes a thought-provoking blog about wildlife. David brought much to the competition with his careful eye and generous prizes, assisted by Carol Littlewood from The Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (Angus) and Lianne MacLennan from the Angus Glens Moorland Group, with a big thank you also to Angus Council for their assistance in promoting and supporting the competition.

Iona Laing, organiser of the competition on behalf of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust said: “Glamis Castle offered the perfect venue for our inaugural prize giving for the Angus Schools art competition, it was a very special occasion.

"The atmosphere was lovely, a very supportive crowd came to celebrate the youngsters’ work; there is so much local talent.”

Kayla’s prize is a drawing workshop with David Adam and a photography workshop with Kirk Norbury, organised by the Angus Glens Moorland Group plus a collection of books and art materials while Nathan has won a visit for his whole class to a farm local to his school organised by The Royal Northern Countryside Initiative, plus an estate visit organised by the Angus Glens Moorland Group. He also wins an art workshop with David Adam and a collection of art materials and books.

In addition to their prizes the pupils have been invited by David to the Montrose Museum in April 2022 where they will bring the natural history exhibit to life with tuition from David. Their art work will be displayed in the museum for all to see.