Peace painting wins praise as Woodford Green schoolgirl’s art named nation’s best

A talented young artist, who wowed judges with her Remembrance Sunday-inspired painting, has been crowned the winner of a nationwide art competition.

Claudia Joarder, 10, a pupil at Bancroft’s Prep School, High Road, Woodford Green entered the competition, organised by the Islam Society of Britain, in which participants were asked to show what peace meant to them.

Claudia’s beautiful a painting of a girl surrounded by a field of poppies was voted the Key Stage 2 winner from more than 1,000 entries by a panel of judges.

Vice president of the society, Julie Siddiqui, visited the school on Friday to present Claudia with her prize – a Kindle – and to talk to pupils about peace.

Claudia, who had been unaware she had won the prize until her name was announced in assembly, said she painted her picture close to Remembrance Sunday and was aware of the significance of the poppy, as a sign of peace.

She added: “The girl in the picture is meant to be me.”