A PERTH schoolgirl has triumphed in a national art competition.

Jade Williamson (9), who attends Balhousie Primary School, was the overall winner of the Children in Scotland competition.

Jade and the other winners were guests of honour at a prize-giving ceremony in the Scottish Parliament this week.

Over 500 children entered the competition to choose My Favourite Place, and Balhousie head teacher Freda Cummings is thrilled Jade has come out on top.

She said, “We’re really proud of Jade.”

To beat so many entrants was “a fantastic achievement,” she added.

Winners and selected entries are on display at the Scottish Parliament for a week.

Prizes were awarded by Robin Harper MSP, chairman of the cross-party group on children and architecture and co-convener of the Scottish Green Party.

Jade won prizes for herself and her school.

The judges were Mr Harper, film producer and director Mark Cousins, Ikea community manager Hilary Robb and Children in Scotland’s arts development officer Fiona Maher.

Ms Maher said, “With such a huge number of entries judging is never an easy job but the winning entries stood out in terms of originality, imagination, creativity and use of materials in their interpretation of the theme.

Hilary Robb added, “A wonderful way to spend an afternoon—looking at hundreds of colourful and imaginative pictures. Congratulations to all those who took part and a huge well done to our winners.”

Assessing Jade’s picture Going Down a Rainbow, Mr Cousins commented, “This overall winner is an extremely touching picture. Her favourite place is sliding down a rainbow, a fantastically original and inventive idea.” He also said it was “portrayed so well,” and a “beautiful idea, brilliantly realised.”

Children in Scotland is the country’s national children’s agency.

It brings together voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals to improve the lives of Scotland’s children and their families.