Creative P&J paper boy Alistair Smith is one of only 14 in the UK who claimed a prize at the Royal Academy of Arts Young Artists’ Summer Show.
Going up against over 21,500 other submitted artworks from artists aged 4-19, the young artist from Kingswells won the prize for “most inspiring artwork”.
As well as winning £500 worth of vouchers for materials for his school and £100 for himself, Alistair’s submitted piece also formed part of a special exhibition in London.
The 17-year-old entered a lino print named “Self Study”, a self portrait using a form of print making.
‘Loved art for most of my life’
Talking about his artwork, he said: “I find doing the lino cut quite relaxing once you get in the rhythm.
“I chose to do a self-portrait as I’ve never really done one before and I thought it would be a good thing to do to challenge myself.”
Alistair said he wanted to represent how he used music during the pandemic and studying for school to help remove and forget stress and worries and to “lift his spirits”.
When he heard back from the Royal Academy, Alistair said he was shocked: “I was amazed to just get in and then I found out later that I had won a prize which was incredible.”
He and his family went down to visit the exhibition in London. He added: “It was very exciting to see the piece in the actual building itself instead of just in my room or somewhere else.”
The Bucksburn Academy student said he has “loved art for most of his life” and will be carrying out his advanced higher art next year.
He added that receiving the prize has made him more confident in lino print and he hopes to study illustration or fine art at university.
Alistair has been a P&J paper boy for about four years now and says the early mornings have given him more time to “feel awake before school”.
He said: “I’d encourage everybody to try and do it because it’s a lot easier to fit around like a Saturday job or an after school job because it wakes you up as well as giving you a routine.”
An ambition for a lot of artists
His mum, Sheila Batchelor, said she and the family were very proud of his achievement: “We’re obviously delighted that he’s won the award.
“It’s an ambition for lots of artists so it’s really exciting that he has got something in the youth show.
“It was amazing he got but it was even more amazing that he won one of the prizes.”
She said Alistair has always drawn a lot: “He used to and still does make little ‘zines. Really from primary school, he’s been interested in printmaking and art.”
The trip to see the exhibition was a “big celebration” and Ms Batchelor said it was a “massive thrill” to see Alistair’s work hanging on display.
Conversation