Hull 10-year-old wins Big Issue cover competition

A 10-year-old boy from Hull has won a competition that will see his drawing feature on this week's Big Issue cover.

Ashton Whitaker's drawing of endangered animals was picked as the top entry from hundreds submitted by children aged 13 and under.

Environmental campaigner and Big Issue ambassador Chris Packham headed the judging panel and described the artwork as "bright and bold".

Ashton said: "I wanted to draw animals that are nearly extinct to inspire people to save them. These are some of the ones I really like."

He added: "Hammerhead sharks are hunted for their fins, so I wanted to show that the hammerhead has been injured from humans fishing."

Mr Packham said: "The composition is strong, it's colourful and framed nicely. It's really clever, as if the plants had grown on to the letters."

Other shortlisted designs that will feature in this week's magazine include an alien invasion drawn by eight-year-old JJ Bishop from Truro and a beach-set "art attack" using washed-up material made by 11-year-old Robyn Maydew from Helensburgh, in Argyll and Bute.

Six-year-old Nola Burns from Bournemouth was one of the youngest entrants to make the shortlist.

She was just five when she drew her flamingo design on the floor of Worthing Hospital while visiting her ill grandmother.

Big Issue editor Paul McNamee said: "It's always a joy when entries for the cover competition flood in.

"I'm delighted Chris joined us as lead judge and I'm glad the decision lay with him!"

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