A FLINTSHIRE child has been recognised for his artwork in an international drawing competition.

Ellis Thomas, 5, from Caerwys, has been crowned as the Welsh finalist in the 2019 BIC® KIDS Young Artist Award and will have his artwork published.

After receiving nearly 1,500 entries from 5-11 years across the UK for this year’s campaign, Ellis impressed the judges with his colourful hot air balloon scene.

Ellis’s entry will now be published on a large billboard and posters across the region and put forward for a public vote against the other regional finalists between Friday, August 23 and Sunday, September 8, 2019.

The public will then decide who wins the overall prize of having their artwork published on billboards nationwide, as well as a creative art party.

Phil Corbett, an illustrator, who sat on the judging panel for this year’s campaign, said: “We are delighted to crown Ellis as our regional finalist for Wales. I love the detail on this piece; the clouds, the designs on the balloons and the smiling faces of the people in the baskets. It’s a really cheerful and, excuse the pun, uplifting picture.

“We hope the people of Wales get behind Ellis and cast their vote for this talented young artist on the BIC® KIDS Young Artist Award website.”

The award aims to celebrate the creativity of children from across the country, giving proud parents across the UK the opportunity to see their child’s drawings graduate from the fridge door to billboards.

Regional finalists were chosen via an expert judging panel and will now have their artworks used on billboards and posters across the region they represent between Monday, August 26 and Sunday, September 8, 2019.

During this time a public vote will take place at www.bickids.co.uk/youngartist, which will decide the overall champion. The winner’s masterpiece will then be used on further billboards and posters nationwide in late September and they will win a creative art party to enjoy with up to 10 friends.