Organisers of a children’s art competition have been so impressed by the quality of the entries that a special exhibition has been set up to show the runners up.

The competition, organised by York Civic Trust, gave young people a chance to paint or draw a city view that was meaningful to them. There were over 300 entries from eleven York primary schools.

The judges were local artists Jake Attree and Patrick Smith plus Laura Turner, curator of art at York City Art Gallery, and Robert Teed, owner of The School House Gallery.

They chose six entries to be part of the major Views Of York exhibition, taking place at Fairfax House until August 31.

However, the judges were so impressed by the entries they selected an additional 50 paintings, believing the standard was so high, they warranted an exhibition of their own. This is now taking place at Explore Library until Friday, June 29.

Peter Brown, director of York Civic Trust said: “We have mounted all the paintings and they look fantastic, there is such an array of subjects, the young people have really used their imagination.”

Coun Sonja Crisp, City of York Council cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “There are so many great views in York from Clifford’s Tower, The Bar Walls, to the Shambles and Minster – which year on year keep attracting over seven million tourists to York. So it was fantastic to see so many children getting involved in this exhibition.”

• The ‘Views of York exhibition at Fairfax House is currently displaying over 100 paintings and watercolours, by artists such as J M W Turner, John Varley and Thomas Girtin, focusing primarily on views of York which have inspired artists over the last four centuries.