Galashiels schoolgirl wins poster competition

Lauren’s winning design will be displayed as part of a special free exhibition, open to the public, at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh from June 6 to August 28, alongside 13 other regional winners, the three winning designs and more than 150 shortlisted designs.

Supported by Virgin Money, the competition launched in 1980 and is one of Scotland’s longest-running arts outreach projects. This year, 238 classes from 187 schools across Scotland entered the competition with over 5,500 pupils submitting inspirational and unique designs in response to the creative brief.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the competition’s top prize offered the next generation of artists the unique opportunity to design the cover of the official Fringe Programme and, for the first time, schoolchildren were encouraged to submit their entries in any art form of their choice, such as photography, poetry, digital creations, sculptures, illustrations, paintings and print work, giving them the freedom to express their ideas and explore their creativity.

Chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Shona McCarthy, said: “We had a fantastic response to the competition in this our 70th anniversary year.”

The competition was judged by an expert panel, with representatives from Education Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Dynamic Earth, the Fringe Society, Whitespace, Virgin Money as well as the competition’s champion artist, Jon Bishop aka The Grey Earl.

Champion artist, Jon Bishop aka The Grey Earl said of Lauren’s entry: “Creativity is something to be celebrated and nurtured both in school and throughout life. Lauren’s entry exquisitely features many artistic techniques and the character she has drawn really captures the mystical and magical spirit of the Fringe.”

Dynamic Earth opening hours are June 6-30, 10am–5.30pm (Mon–Sun), and July 1–August 28, 10am–6pm (Mon–Sun).