A budding artist from Frome has made it to the South West finals of the Royal Mail’s children’s Christmas Stamp Design Competition.
The entry by Ted Lewis-Clark, aged 10, of Oakfield Academy, was chosen from amongst the 12,824 entries submitted from across the South West region.
Ted’s entry is one that has been shortlisted and will now go through to the next stage of the competition where local judges will select their top two designs to represent the region in the national final.
Local judges for the South West region will include: Phil Gibby from the Arts Council, artist, Mary Rouncefield, Ken McCormick from the Bristol Post and Geoff Braden from Royal Mail.
A national panel of judges will then select the two designs that will feature on this year’s First and Second Class Christmas stamps. The stamps will be on sale from 7 November 2017.
Ted has already won £100 in vouchers and £100 for his school. The winner of the regional final will receive £500 for himself and £500 for the school) and the winner of the grand final will see their stamp design produced to go on sale, and a £1,000 prize.
Kate Stewart, head of art at Oakfield Academy said, “The standard of artwork from our KS2 pupils alone was outstanding, but to become a finalist in a nationwide completion is indeed an achievement. Well done Ted!”
Royal Mail received over 200,000 entries from children aged 4-11 years old from across the UK in response to the question: ‘What does the Christmas season mean to you?’
Only three times before in Royal Mail’s history – 1966, 1981 and 2013 – have the official Christmas stamps been designed by children.
As with all special stamps issued by Royal Mail, both winning designs will have to be approved by the Queen. Other Christmas stamps for different postal rates, and a religious-themed issue, will also be available from 7 November 2017.