Dream finish for festival artists and film-makers

MORE than 40 children won prizes in the art and film competitions at this year’s Henley Youth Festival, writes David White.

Entries including paintings, photography, drawings and sculptures were put on display at the education centre at the River & Rowing Museum over the final weekend and the film entries were screened.

The prizes, which included trophies, Easter eggs and certificates, were presented by Mayor Glen Lambert.

Artist Camilla Shelley, who is the museum’s Artways tutor, judged the art entries.

She said: “I thought the festival’s ‘Dreams’ theme was a great way to develop imagination. I’m always impressed by the use of materials, particularly in 3D work.

“Art is an area where children can explore and take risks and they need to be encouraged to do so.

“Children’s art is just as valued as any other type and we really need to encourage and celebrate that.” The film section was judged by film director Jo Southwell, from Aston, who said: “The films were all really well-thought out and the animations were a step up from last year.”

Mrs Southwell praised the diversity of the work by older children, which included a documentary, a black and white film and a short film called Darth Vader Very Bad Day made by children at Valley Road Primary School in Henley.

The results were as follows:

2D Art

Infants (age four to six): 1 Joshua Drummond, Valley Road Primary School, Henley; 2 Melia Drummond, Valley Road; 3 Sebastian Sheldon, Valley Road. Highly commended: Milly N, Trinity primary, Henley.

Age seven and eight: 1 Orla Hughes, Rupert House School, Henley; 2 Romilly Dobson, Valley Road; 3 Scarlett Hillier, Nettlebed Community School. Highly commended: Armin Majoros, Valley Road.

Age nine to 11: 1 Jessie, Trinity;
2 Dolly Gadsdon, Shiplake primary; 3 Zara Barnett, Valley Road.

Pairs age nine to 11: 1 Alysia Cowling-Rees and Pauline Sabat, Sacred Heart primary, Henley;
2 Lola Dyer and Isobel Knight, Rupert House; 3 Madeleine Smith and Eleni Chatterjee, Rupert House. Highly commended: Jan Karpowize and Husnain Malik, Sacred Heart.

3D Art

Infants (age four to six): 1 Agatha Cowling-Rees, Sacred Heart;
2 Alice Vernon, Rupert House;
3 Charlotte Vernon, Rupert House.

Age seven and eight: 1 Freddy Burton, Valley Road; 2 Wilfred Singer, Sacred Heart.

Age nine to 11: 1 Alysia Cowling-Rees, Sacred Heart; 2 Clara Coetsee, Rupert House; 3 Gracie Nash, Rupert House. Highly commended: Lily McKechnie, Sacred Heart, and Annabele Buff, Rupert House.

Collaborative

1= Sonning Common Primary School art club and Nettlebed Community School art club.
Secondary schools

2D Art

1 Sadie Brown, Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, Marlow;
2 Maisy Hillier, Langtree School, Woodcote; 3 Lily Skaanild, Abbey School, Reading.

Film

Juniors (age seven to 11)

Best story: Dreamzzzzzz, William Tavinor, Valley Road, Henley.

Best short: Darth Vader Very Bad Day, Joshua Bentley, Rowan Richens, Henry Allingham, Adam Herbert and Alexander Reichoury, Valley Road, Henley.

Senior (age 12 to 18)

Best drama: Operation: Pied Piper, Ella Wood, Gillotts School, Henley

Best documentary: The Tree Barn, Freddie Fox-Wilson, The Henley College.

Best short: D.R.E.A.M., Connor Botha, Gillotts; Kirsten Botha Cranford House School, Moulsford; Archie Wood and Harry Wood, Abingdon School.