Three local children win Mayor’s Art Competition thanks to their lockdown life creations

Six-year-old Jouri Oubari from Horley has been declared as the overall winner of the Mayor’s Art Competition.

Over 125 Reigate & Banstead children put pen to paper for the Mayor’s Art Competition. Themed ‘Lockdown life – and the future’, the competition invited young people to create a piece of artwork that best reflected their experiences of 2020 and their hopes and dreams for 2021.

The outgoing Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, Cllr Rosemary Absalom, announced the three winners – one for each age category – at the Annual Council meeting.

The winners are:

• Jouri Oubari, 6 (Under 8s age category and overall winner)
• Phoebe Dobbe, 11 (8-12 age category)
• Georgi Boyadzhiev, 14 (13-19 age category)

Cllr Absalom said: “A huge thank you to everyone who entered. The thought, care and level of artistic skill that went into the pictures was breath-taking.

“Georgi’s level of detail stood out in the 13-19 age category. I loved the way he’s cleverly drawn a key worker dressed as a superhero underneath a rainbow.

“Phoebe’s colourful artwork reflected her time at home with her twin siblings while schools were closed, with a beautiful rainbow and nods to thanking key workers and donating to food banks.

“Meanwhile six-year-old Jouri has captured the range of emotions many of us have felt over the past year. Her double-sided face represents both the sadness of the pandemic versus the hopes for a better future. She was a worthy winner and it will be a delight to have this piece displayed in the parlour for years to come.

“Congratulations again to all our winners. It’s been a delight judging this competition – the talent of our borough’s young people is truly inspiring.”

Each winner receives a £50 Hobbycraft voucher and a certificate from the Mayor. The overall winning artwork will be framed and displayed in the Mayor’s Parlour at the Town Hall in Reigate to be seen by visitors when the Mayor is able to welcome guests back again.

Cllr Absalom announced the winners as her final act as Mayor before handing over to Cllr Jill Bray, who was elected during the Annual Council meeting as Mayor for 2021 to 2022. Information about the new Mayor will be updated here today: www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/mayor.