City Arts Portsmouth CIC is delighted to introduce James from Southsea (aged 9) as the recipient of the inaugural POSE Kids Arts Award.

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The POSE Kids award was created to encourage young people to share their creativity as part of the wider POSE Portsmouth Open Studios community. As this is the first year the award has been offered, James’s submission marks the beginning of what we hope will become a growing opportunity for young artists in the city.

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James developed a passion for art and craft from the age of four and has enjoyed drawing ever since. Inspired by local street artists such as My Dog Sighs and Fark, his style (James') varies from crazy doodle figures to painting canvas with acrylic to drawing birds using pastels.

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For his submission, James created a large 50 × 76 cm artwork on cardboard. Using Posca pens, he drew more than 150 doodle creatures, surrounding a rainbow at the centre that represents a message of peace and a celebration of diversity. It is the largest piece he has made so far, completed over the course of a week with patience and determination.

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As the inaugural recipient of the POSE Kids Arts Award, James receives the POSE Kids prize and recognition as the first young artist to take part in this new initiative.

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James’s work will also feature in the POSE 100 exhibition at Storehouse 9 from 4–12 April, celebrating 100 years of Portsmouth as a city.

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James has also received encouragement from Portsmouth street artist Fark, who asked us to share a message for him:

"James is work is FANTASTIC! He's really smashing it. Keep going."

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We hope that James’s participation will encourage many more young people to take part in POSE Kids in the years ahead.