A SOUTH West artist is encouraging children in Bude to get colourful and creative in a landmark drawing competition, which gives them the chance to see their design on the side of a coach.

Jenny Urquhart launched the ‘Colour the Coach’ competition Bude on June 14, on behalf of National Express.

The contest is open to children aged five to 15. They are asked to draw their favourite local landmark and the winning design — as chosen by Jenny — will be turned into a special, one off livery to go on the side of a National Express coach. The winner will also get £50 prize money.

To kick-start the competition, Jenny drew her favourite local landmark, the beautiful Clevedon Pier, which first opened in 1869 so passengers could board the paddle steamer from Devon and Wales.

Jenny, who is well known for her bright and colourful landscape collages and hot air balloon designs, is encouraging Bude youngsters to enter the competition.

She said: “I want all kids in Bude, aged five to 15, to pick up their pens and Colour the Coach. I’m looking for bold, colourful designs of some of the fantastic landmarks that you can see around the region, so get creative and let your imagination run free.”

National Express coach managing director, Chris Hardy, said: “This competition is a great opportunity for tiny Turners in Bude to put some colour on the canvas and send us their best landmark designs with the chance to see their creation hit the road on one of our coaches. We are encouraging all kids to pick up their pens and have a go at Colour the Coach.”

Entrants to ‘Colour the Coach’ should simply draw a landscape image of their favourite local landmark on an A4 sheet of paper, using whatever drawing materials they want. Closing date is Friday, July 28.

Entries should include: name, address, age, phone number and email address, written on the back of the picture. They should be sent to National Express Coach Art Competition, National Express House, Mill Lane, Birmingham, B5 6DD.

For more information or to book visit www.nationalexpress.com or call 0871 7818181.

To see Jenny’s work visit www.jennysgallery.co.uk