A Bexley primary school pupil has won a national art competition after impressing renowned toy designers with their creation.

Six-year-old, Dino Venizelou, from Westlodge School in Sidcup, was presented with a toy prototype of his design, during a celebratory workshop, this week (09 March).

The annual UK-wide Sketching Stars competition is hosted by STAEDTLER Teachers’ Club UK and, this year, joined forces with leading toy design company designbytouch, to set pupils the challenge of creating their very own monster toy.

Working with animators and artists to illustrators and toy designers, Sketching Stars aims to show the successful, rewarding careers that art can lead to, while unearthing the talent of the future. Dino, who won the KS1 category, beat off more than 6,500 entrants with his design, which portrayed a terrifying monster called Dennis. As part of his prize, he won a toy design workshop for his entire class, £250 worth of STAEDTLER stationery for his school and, of course, saw his own monster design brought to life. Creative Director at designbytouch, Paul Boucher, said: “Dino is a talented young artist and deserving winner of the Sketching Stars competition so naturally, it was a joy to transform his monstrous creation into a real toy.

“I had so much fun working with the children at Westlodge Primary School. Hopefully we have been able to demonstrate to the children that artistic talent can lead to a rewarding career when they grow up.”

Rachel Woolley, Marketing Manager at STAEDTLER UK, added: “After the success of last year’s Sketching Stars campaign, we were thrilled to be able to run this competition again with the help of designbytouch.

“The competition aims to celebrate art in the classroom and show primary school children up and down the country that with the right support, you can turn a talent for sketching into a great career.”

Submitted by Ruth Adams