The NADFAS Chairman's Competition always attracts a strong following among Young Arts groups and 2011's theme of Unlock that Picture was no exception. The brainchild of Judith Waples back in 1985 - who was then National Chairman of NADFAS - the initiative was designed to give opportunities for children to try out art activities that differed to those in schools at the time. This year's competition theme was based on the National Gallery's Take One Picture countrywide scheme for primary schools, whereby the gallery focuses on one painting from the collection to inspire cross-curricular work in primary classrooms. Following a similar vein, NADFAS asked participants to visit a museum or art gallery, choose a piece of art and reinterpret it in any way they chose - not just to copy it. The hope was that the brief would encourage the young artists to really look at a piece of art and engage with it. There were 136 entries from nine Young Arts groups making up two categories: Group one - aged 8-11 years; and Group Two - aged 12-14 years. The judging panel, which consisted of NADFAS Chairman Gri Harrison, Michelle Buhl-Nielson, a sensory artist based in Hampshire, and Andrew Ellis, CEO of the Public Catalogue Foundation, was given the diffi cult task of selecting a winner from each of the groups. They also singled out those pictures that they felt deserved special mention (see box).Images the groups chose to work from included Matisse's Dance, Millais' The Blind Girl, Ford Madox Brown's Cromwell on his Farm and Ronald Forbes' The Witnesses Arriving. Judges were impressed by the range of entries and commended the young artists for their attention to detail and use of materials. They said it was a Above: The vibrant gallery of picturesLeft: Ryan Batty's winning drawing of Cromwell the Modern Day Tax CollectorUnlock that picture The 2011 NADFAS Chairman's Competition for Young Artists saw great displays of imagination and talent as old masterpieces were reinterpreted with a modern twist 50 NADFAS REVIEW / SPRING 2012 www.nadfas.org.ukYOUNG ARTISTS

pleasure and a privilege to judge such imaginative work.Winner Lucy Bradley, in the 8-11 year group, received praise for her reconstruction of Matisse's Dance. The judges said: "The picture exudes fun and having a good time with your friends! It reminded us of Michael Craig-Martin's Reconstructing Seurat, with its boldness of colour and brilliant modern-day interpretation of Matisse's original, for the youth of today!"Winner of the 12-14 year group, Ryan Batty, also received praise for the humour in his drawing of Cromwell the Modern Day Tax Collector. Ryan said he wanted to show Cromwell, who was a tax man in the 17th century, in the modern age by drawing him in a vehicle. The judges said: "Taking Cromwell off his horse and 'transporting' him into the here-and-now by placing him in a car is full of humour. The detail on the number plates shows this artist's consistency of idea, as well as making us smile!" After hearing he had scooped top prize a delighted Ryan tweeted: "I can't believe I won." And Amelia Rowlands, runner-up in the 8-11 year group, also received praise for her interpretation of Millais' Blind Girl. Amelia said she chose the Millais painting because "the river and the trees really stood out for me, so I decided to make the river the main part [of the picture]." The judges felt her use of materials was magical. They said: "The soft cotton wool clouds, the glimmering fi lm surface of the river that appears wet, and the use of iridescent paints for the sky and grass give the landscape an enchanted feel." Winners and runners-up received prizes including art materials, art books and book tokens. Winners, runners-up and those who were highly commended also received a certifi cate with an image of their work inserted, while all others were given a certifi cate thanking them for taking part. ?THIS YEAR'S WINNERSGroup One: 8-11 yearsWinner:Lucy Bradley / Test Valley GroupRunner-up: Amelia Rowlands / Make Your Mark GroupHighly Commended:Oriole Gunter / Test Valley GroupHighly Commended:Elsie / Ayrshire GroupHighly Commended:Clara Reid / Perth GroupHighly Commended:Edie Land / Test Valley GroupHighly Commended:Will Pullé / Make Your Mark GroupHighly Commended:Iona Londale / Perth GroupHighly Commended:Sky-Lotus Coakley / Wirral Museum GroupHighly Commended: Claire Jennings / Stirling Group Group Two: 12-14 yearsWinner:Ryan Batty / Wirral Museum GroupJoint Runner-up:Natasha Wilson / Stirling GroupJoint Runner-up:Mark Taylor / Stirling GroupHighly Commended:Louise Mitchell / Ayrshire Group Right: Lucy Bradley's winning reconstruction of Matisse's Dance painting Below: Runner-up Amelia Rowlands' interpretation of Millais' Blind Girl www.nadfas.org.uk NADFAS REVIEW / SPRING 2012 51 YOUNG ARTISTS