SHE’S the Queen of arts as talented York youngsters have proved with their Diamond Jubilee portraits of Her Majesty.

Entries flooded in for The Press competition to paint or draw a portrait of the Queen and a public vote was held to determine the most popular of each of the three categories of shortlisted entries.

Mia Richardson, 12, an All Saints pupil from the Tadcaster Road area, won the 11 to 14-year-old category and the competition overall, with her skilled portrait of the Queen wearing red.

Mia said she never expected to win the competition but she was delighted to win the first prize of a £200 bike from York’s classic bike shop, Cycle Heaven. She is already a keen cyclist. “It will be really cool,” she said.

Meanwhile, six-year-old Daisy Donovan, from St Mary’s School in Askham Bryan, triumphed in the three to six-year-old category, with her cheerful drawing of the Queen sporting a yellow dress and wide-brimmed hat.

Mia Reilly-Smyth, nine, of New Earswick Primary School, won the seven to ten-year-old category, with an elegant portrait of Her Majesty.

All three girls won a £50 shopping voucher. Their winning pictures, along with a selection of other entries, will be displayed in York Minster as part of the York Minster Revealed project.

Spanning five years, with £10.5 million backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), York Minster Revealed is the largest restoration and conservation project of its kind in the UK.

It aims to create multi-media galleries, new displays of historic collections and interactive interpretations along with improved access to the South Transept, Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt.

Acting Dean, The Revd Canon Glyn Webster, said the team at York Minster felt very proud to be showcasing portraits from The Press competition in the East End during what is a particularly busy and exciting year at the Minster.

For more information on York Minster Revealed visit wonders.yorkminster.org