Six-year-old Middleton artist wins Axel Scheffler original

A budding young artist from Middleton has impressed professionals with her illustrations, beating hundreds of children from across the country in a competition to win a signed Axel Sheffler drawing.

Erin Burgess, six, from Middleton, entered a competition run by the Lowry art gallery in Salford Quays, alongside its Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler exhibition.

The exhibition ran from July to December last year, drawing in thousands of visitors from across the country.

Children’s author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Sheffler created some of the nation’s best-loved characters, with books including The Gruffalo, and Room On The Broom.

The competition asked children to draw one of the famous characters, or create their own inspired by them. Erin drew the witch and cat from Room on the Broom — and she went on to win a signed original of the very same witch.

 

 

The prize was presented to her on Tuesday (20 February) by Tim Manley, director of marketing and comms at the Lowry, on a half term trip to the gallery. Erin also received a hardback copy of Room on the Broom, and lunch with her family at The Lowry restaurant.

Erin, a pupil at St Michael’s C of E Primary, comes from a long line of artists. Her uncle Sean Edwards, 38, is an artist, her grandad, David Edwards, 84, is a member of Manchester Academy of Fine Art and her late great-grandfather, Arthur Campbell was a renowned Irish artist.

Her parents Laura, 35, and James, 39, were also at the gallery to see her receive her prize, along with her little brother Matthew, three.

Erin said: “I was really happy to win, my favourite thing is drawing, and I want to be an artist when I grow up.”

Grandad David said: “Erin’s got an incredible natural flair for art and it's a joy to see her so interested.”