A FORMER Peter Symonds College pupil is the runner up in the national Arts Society Student A Level Art Competition. 

Jodie Clark's was one of six paintings nominated by the Winchester branch of The Arts Society. 

The winner is a portrait of Holocaust survivor Frank Bright by Sophia Skrinchuk, nominated by The Arts Society South East Suffolk.

Jodie's portrait Sleeping Figure secured second place. 

Jodie said: “I wanted to explore the idea of sleep and its representations of vulnerability and innocence.”

Hampshire Chronicle: ‘Sleeping Figure’ by runner-up Jodie Clark of Peter Symonds College

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At the invitation of the president of the Royal Society of British Artists, who was a member of the shortlisting judging panel, Jodie’s painting is currently being exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London. Sleeping Figure was also highly commended by the De Laszlo Foundation when it was considered for the foundation’s annual prize for young people’s art.

Sarah Hill, chair of The Arts Society Winchester, said: “We are delighted for Jodie and her family. As a society we wish to encourage and promote young people’s art and we thoroughly enjoy our involvement with Peter Symonds College head of art Anton Pigott and his staff and students.” 

Hampshire Chronicle: ‘Frank Bright’ by first prize winner Sophia Skrinchuk

Two other Peter Symonds pupils’ paintings were shortlisted out of 15 nationally for the first and runner-up prizes from a total of 113 entries. 

At a ceremony just before Christmas, all six Peter Symonds pupils were presented with framed prints of their art by the chair of The Arts Society Winchester. The first prize winner now wins £500 from The Arts Society and, as runner-up, Jodie wins £250. 

Jodie has now left Peter Symonds College to study fine art at Arts University Bournemouth.