Arnold Sam won the Big Issue Christmas Cover competition
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This year’s entries to the Christmas Kids Cover Competition were arguably the best ever.
Hundreds and hundreds of fantastic festive entries flooded in, riffing on this year’s theme: WELCOME, making it almost impossible to pick a winner.
But after much deliberation, six-year-old Arnold Sam from Epsom, Surrey was crowned this year’s winner, his picture of a very jolly Christmas tree and a joyous Santa filling us with Christmas spirit.
Arnold said: “When I heard this exciting news, I felt so happy and really proud that my drawing will be on the cover of The Big Issue. The magazine helps people.”
Arnold is passionate about art, and heard about the competition from his teacher Lily. “He loves drawing and this opportunity was especially exciting for him,” said Arnold’s mum Queenie.
And Arnold has a Christmas message for our readers: “I want to wish everyone a super happy Christmas and I hope Santa can bring Christmas gifts and joy to every nice kid in the world.”
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As well as the honour of having his drawing on the cover, we’ll also be sending Arnold some arts materials as a prize so he can create his next masterpiece. Helping us with the difficult decision was artist and children’s book author Oliver Jeffers. He said: “It’s always a privilege to be able to support the next generation of artists.
“They are brilliant, we love them.” Big Issue editor Paul McNamee said: “Every year we’re knocked sideways by the ideas and the joy. We thank every young artist, their parents, teachers and carers who helped get this together. And special congratulations to Arnold!”
Arnold won this year’s prize – but it was stiff competition. Hundreds of young people got out their pens, pencils, paints or graphic design software for the annual contest, and the results were incredible.
Christmas Kids Cover honourable mentions
Thomas in London submitted this entry
We loved the dynamic between the penguin and turkey on the artwork by Thomas, aged nine, from Alleyn’s School in London. One is likely to have a better Christmas than the other, though perhaps the penguin is going to save his plucky pal. This was one of many entries from the school so thanks to them.
Nine-year-old Jiu Kim’s entry
Nine-year-old Jiu Kim from Glasgow sent us a depiction of what her two Siamese cats dream about at Christmas. Plenty of fish, it seems!
Arnika, seven, sent us this wintry scene all the way from Iran.
This year’s competition truly went global. We had entries from Australia, India and many other countries, including Iran, from where this wintry scene was sent by Arnika, seven.
Thank you to all our incredible entrants! See them all below.
This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine, which exists to give homeless, long-term unemployed and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work please buy a copy.
