Art At The Ridge is pleased to announce the winners of the island’s 2012 School Christmas Card Competition. This long-running and popular annual art competition is open to all schools in Antigua & Barbuda. Artwork is judged in six age categories, ranging from ages 7 to 19.

As always, this competition highlights the high standard of our island’s artistic talents from a very young age. Some winners and runners-up in previous years have gone on to study art at university level or are now pursuing careers involving art in some form. Artwork entries received this year ranged from traditional Christmas themes to more abstract Christmas themes, from funny and jokey Christmas themes to quirky and ‘off the wall’ Christmas themes. Our island’s young artists certainly do not seem to lack imagination!

Here are the winners and runners-up in each age category.

Ages 7 to 8:
Winner: Hayley McIntosh, age 8, Island Academy
Runner-up: Mika Shemy, age 8, St Nicholas Primary School

Ages 9 to 10:
Winner: Abbie Iturriaga, age 10, St Nicholas Primary School
Runner-up: Tahron Peters, age 9, Liberta Primary School

Ages 11 to 12:
Winner: Francesca Southwell, age 11, Christ The King High School
Runner-up: William Hedley, age 12, Island Academy

Ages 13 to 14:
Winner: Kianna Gonnella, age 13, Island Academy
Runner-up: Deja Phillip, age 13, St Anthony’s Secondary School

Ages 15 to 16:
Winner: Suelae Robinson, age 15, Island Academy
Runner-up: Noah Peters, age 15, Island Academy

Ages 17 to 19:
Winner: Nicole Bento, age 17, Island Academy
Runner-up: Garuin Benjamin, age 19, Antigua State College

Congratulations to all winners and runners-up!