Over three hundred budding young artists, aged from three to fourteen, joined in the “Young Painter 2008 Competition” at Twycross Zoo over the summer holidays. Every child who brought a drawing of their favourite animal gained free admission to the Zoo, others decided to draw, colour or paint their picture in the Art Shack at the Zoo where all the masterpieces were displayed.

A competition was held and split into two age groups: three to eight and nine to fourteen. Clinton Banbury, an illustrator who has been entered into Best of British Illustration Exhibition, took on the very difficult task of choosing the winners. Clinton was looking for originality and good artistic skills; this proved to be a tricky task as the standard in this year’s competition was very high.

Two lucky winners, Adam Birch of Hinckley and Grace Hamilton of Coalville, won a family ticket to the Zoo with a giraffe feeding session and a limited edition print from Clinton Banbury; the runners up Emily McDade, Owen Ward and Megan Cooke all received a family ticket to the Zoo.