Hetty Lawlor (17) from Kilmeena, Co Mayo has won the 64th Texaco Children’s Art Competition for her portrait study of a young neighbour titled ” Gráinne”.

Her entry, which she completed in acrylic and colour pencil, was described by judges of the competition as ‘a captivating portrait, beautifully composed, perfectly executed and life-like in its use of colour, tone and texture’.

It was placed first in the senior 16-18 years age category.

A pupil at the local Sacred Heart School in her hometown, Lawlor expressed her “amazement” at being the overall winner of the competition.

“Knowing of the many renowned and highly talented artists who have won prizes in the competition down through the years, I feel hugely honoured to be amongst them”, she added.

Hetty is not the only one in the Lawlor family to possess an artistic flair, however, in fact it runs throughout. Jimmy Lawlor, her father, is an artist. He won first place in the Texaco Children’s Art Competition back in 1984 as a 16-year-old student.

Hetty says her father and his success is what inspired her to enter into the competition.

“His support, and the hope that I could follow in his footsteps, is one of the main reasons why I persisted in entering the competition.”

In addition, her mother Phyl designs carpets and rugs, and her sister Anna studies animation at college in Dun Laoghaire.

This isn’t the first award Hetty has won on behalf of the Texaco Children’s Art Competition either. She has received a Special Merit award in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Planning to pursue third-level studies in art, Hetty’s prize will include a cheque for €1,500 plus a visit to Tokyo in August at the invitation of the International Foundation for Arts and Culture.

There she will be guest at the 19th International High School Arts Festival in which her winning artwork will be exhibited at the National Arts Center.

Chairman of the judging panel, Professor Declan McGonagle, described Hetty as ‘an exceptional talent’ and said:

“She is the latest in a generation of young prize winners whose work is testament to the depth of artistic ability existing in Ireland today and an illustration of the very high standard of entries being submitted in the Texaco Children’s Art Competition.”