TWO local youngsters have won runners-up prizes in an art competition run by author AJ Proctor.

She has been visiting schools in North Ayrshire to read from her new book Thumble Tumble, about a witch on the island of Arran.

And, appropriately enough, one of the competition’s winners lives on the island.

Aidan Hewie, Age 10, Brodick Primary, was one of six runners-up in the competition, along with Rachel Quinn, Age 9, from West Kilbride Primary.

AJ, pictured above on a visit to St Anthony’s Primary in Saltcoats last week, will be at the awards ceremony on Friday at the Mitchell Library to meet the winners.

She said: “I have been inspired over the past few months by the enthusiasm of the children I have met during my numerous school visits.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started my journey in August last year. But I never dreamed I would be attending an awards ceremony for a competition in which over 3,000 children took part to design a character from my book!

“The standard of some of the artwork submitted was quite literally breathtaking, and I could not have selected the winning entries without the help of the Glasgow School of Art, and in particular their extremely talented Head of Communication, Donna Leishman. These past few months have been a huge learning curve for me. But, what has stood out for me the most, is the sheer wealth of creative talent we have in our schools.”