A YOUNG artist from Narrabundah is among the winners in the third annual Young Archie competition, one of the most popular events at the Art Gallery of NSW during Archibald Prize season.

18-year-old Harriet Mitchell has won in the 16-18 years category, it was announced yesterday by the gallery.

The other Young Archie winners are Daniel Harford, aged 7, of Horsley NSW in the 5-8 years category, Marium El-Hajj, age 12, Arncliffe NSW in the 9-12 years category and Ellie Arnott, age 15, High Range NSW in the 13-15 years category.

The Young Archie competition, the gallery says, fosters and celebrates creativity among budding young artists from around Australia. In it, children and teenagers aged between 5 and 18 were invited to create and submit a portrait of someone special in their life.

The 1284 entries received across four age categories were judged on merit and originality by leading Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton, Archibald Prize winner in 2008 and 2013, and Victoria Collings, the Gallery’s senior coordinator of education and family programs.

Barton commented, “Young artists don’t hold back. They are very honest with their feelings and this really shines through in their art,” adding “As well as celebrating the talent and passion of young artists, the Young Archie also celebrates the importance of family…Many of this year finalist entries capture special relationships with parents, grandparents and siblings.”

Each winner receives a gift card from ANZ to the value of $100, an art hamper from Faber-Castell and a family pass to the Sydney International Art Series exhibition, “The Greats: masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland” as well as an ANZ money box and Archibald 2015 catalogue.

The five finalist artworks from each age category are on display at the Art Gallery of NSW. Artworks that received an honourable mention are displayed at the S.H. Ervin Gallery in The Rocks, alongside the Salon des Refusés.

The Young Archie competition runs concurrently with the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW until September 27.

2015 exhibition. To view Young Archie finalists and honourable mentions from this year, please visit: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/young-archie/2015/ About the Young Archie Competition As part of the Gallery’s Archibald Prize family-focused activities since 2013, the Young Archie competition invites budding artists between 5 – 18 years old to submit a portrait of someone special to them. Young Archie has four age categories: 5-8 years old, 9-12 years old, 13-15 years and 16-18 years old. Five finalists from each category will be exhibited at the Gallery (18 July – 27 September) and on the Gallery website, with one winner selected from each category. Each winner will receive a gift card from ANZ to the value of $100 and an art hamper from Faber-Castell.