After receiving over 1,000 entries and 20,000 votes last year, the competition that gives budding young artists a chance to let their creativity shine is now open for 2019. This summer, the BIC® KIDS Young Artist Award is giving proud parents across the UK and Republic of Ireland the opportunity to see their child’s drawings graduate from the fridge door to billboards.

The BIC® KIDS Young Artist Award celebrates the creativity of 5 to 11-year-old children from across the country, with an expert judging panel selecting 13 finalists to represent their region. The lucky finalists will have their work displayed on their very own local billboards from late August.

Once regional finalists have been chosen, a public vote will then decide the ultimate winner, whose drawing will go nationwide in late September. Entries are now open until Sunday, August 4.

Entrants are encouraged to exercise their artistic flair, let their imaginations run wild and draw with complete freedom. Entrants should draw a landscape piece on plain A4 paper, use pencils, pens and/or crayons and not draw any famous characters or logos to be eligible to win. Judges will award points for everything from creativity and use of colour, to composition and subject matter. Once kids have created their showstoppers, parents can enter by simply visiting www.bickids.co.uk/youngartist and uploading the artwork before the deadline on Sunday, August 4.

Henri Nicolau, at BIC UK and Ireland, said: “The BIC® KIDS Young Artist Award has been growing year-on-year and we can’t wait to see more incredible entries. We saw some outstanding quality last year, which proved an exciting challenge when it came to the judging stage.

“It’s always so heartwarming to be reminded of just how creative kids are and it’s a real pleasure to be able to reward this talent, giving these artworks the recognition they deserve.”

As well as the opportunity to have their drawings published, the 13 finalists will win a bundle of BIC® KIDS goodies.