News - 2014

11:54 Friday 9 Aug 2013 Sue Pelling/CWLIzzy Shepard wins Junior Art competition for second year running

Izzy Shepard receiving the award from Shirley Robertson earlier today

Eleven-year-old Izzy Shepard from Royal Southampton Yacht Club has won the 2013 Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week junior art competition for the second year running.

Shepard’s impressive piece of art successfully combined this year’s ‘Sealife and Sailing’ theme beating the host of other Under 16 entrants from sailing clubs across the UK. Her prize of £1,000 will be donated to Shepard’s sailing club once again, and the painting donated for auction with the proceeds going to the event’s official event charity – Toe in the Water.

Chatting at today’s presentation about what gave her the inspiration to paint this impressive acrylic, Shepard commented: “I mostly comes from my family but because of the theme of sealife and sailing, I was keen to base it on the Isle of Wight, and my dad suggested the Needles. We got a few photos together and merged the boat sailing, the Needles and the dolphins, which we had on a video we quite liked.”

The keen artist, who won the competition last year with her painting of the Royal Yacht Squadron, said she loves painting when she gets the time. “This year’s one took me about two months on and off. I tend to do a bit at a time, stand back and carry on when I’m in the mood. I enjoy working with acrylics because they blend in well and create nice effects with vibrant, strong colours.”

Last year’s £1,000 prize money was used to purchase a Pico for Royal Southampton YC. Shepard continued: “I was so pleased, particularly as they named it Izzy after me. Not sure what will happen to this year’s prize money but I am sure the club will be delighted.”