A COMPETITION has been launched for children in Whitchurch to paint or draw the world around them.

The Little Artists Challenge is a project to team up 1,000 Shropshire children with professional artist Sarah Evans to encourage creativity and to produce a large-scale community art piece, inspired by nature, to be displayed in Whitchurch Civic Centre.

To take part in the competition, children must send in an A4 picture of nature to Sarah using paint, colouring pencils or crayons or any other artistic medium.

Professor Norma Raynes, organiser of the Caldecott Festival which is supporting the competition, explained what the artwork will be used for.

"Sarah Evans, the artist is aiming to produce a multiple, patchwork style, canvas creation using images inspired by the art work of 1,000 children," said Professor Raynes.

"The theme will be the natural world. The final pieces, which will include children's work, will be displayed locally for all to see.

"Sarah says she will then adapt all the pictures you send to her to compose a patchwork of images on silk painted canvases to make up a collection of large scale canvases.

"It will be children's work that is directly influencing the end result. First names and age will appear on the work.

"Please complete your pictures by Friday, July 11 and send them to Sarah at silknstuff@hotmail.com and please clearly mark your art with your first name and age on the front."