MKOpen, Young Artist Primary Schools Art Exhibition 2026
- Toni Marie Holland
- May 12
- 3 min read
Westbury Arts Centre was buzzing with creativity on Saturday 9th May as the Barn Gallery hosted a the annual Primary Schools Young Artist Art Exhibition and Competition, bringing together talented young artists from 12 schools across the city.
Participating schools included Brooklands Farm Primary, Broughton Manor Prep School, Broughton Fields Primary, Caroline Haslett Primary, Holne Chase Primary, Giles Brook Primary, Glebe Farm, Milton Keynes Prep School, Priory Rise, Two Mile Ash, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary, and Whitehouse Primary.
The exhibition featured an incredible 112 pieces of artwork, transforming the gallery into a vibrant celebration of imagination and self-expression. Visitors enjoyed a wonderful variety of pencil drawings, paintings, ceramics, photography, and mixed media pieces, each reflecting the creativity and individuality of its young artist.
A huge thank you goes to our judges - Mallory Henson, Mary Barnes, and Robin Souter - all accomplished artists who generously gave their time and expertise to carefully select winners across the Years 1–3 and Years 4–6 categories, as well as the Overall Winner and two Highly Commended awards. Their thoughtful encouragement and dedication to supporting young creativity were greatly appreciated. This wonderful exhibition was made possible thanks to the generous support of The Anson Charitable Trust, whose sponsorship helped bring the event to life.
The awards ceremony brought together students, families, friends, teachers, and members of the local community in a warm and celebratory atmosphere. We were delighted to welcome Local Councillors, alongside Milton Keynes Deputy Mayor Councillor Paul Trendall. Together with Westbury Chair of Trustees Joe Little, they opened the event with inspiring words that highlighted the importance of creativity and the value of supporting young people in the arts. One of Westbury’s dedicated volunteers Lola also shared a heartfelt speech before the awards presentation, helping the students feel seen, celebrated, and proud of their achievements.
Special congratulations go to Bobbie Martin from Two Mile Ash School, who was awarded Overall Winner for her intriguing sculpture. As part of her prize, Bobbie will receive a private tutorial with Westbury resident sculpture artist Lindsay Neale, while her school received a £250 prize sponsored by Westbury Arts Centre.
Overall winner
Bobbie Martin
Two Mile Ash
1st Place
Years 1-3
Riki Lee
Broughton Manor Prep
2nd Place
Years 1-3
Rey Tsang
Glebe Farm
3rd Place
Years 1-3
Noah Ahmad
Milton Keynes Prep School
1st Place
Years 4-6
Annya Shukle
Two Mile Ash
2nd Place
Years 4-6
Lucy Chan
Glebe Farm
3rd Place
Years 4-6
Amina Da Costa
Brooklands Farm
Highly Commended
Year 4
Lia Doshi
Milton Keynes Prep
Highly Commended
Year 5 group work
Broughton Manor Prep
Most importantly, every student who took part should feel incredibly proud. The exhibition continues to be a reminder of how important art is within education from the very start, and to our wider community, giving young people the confidence to express themselves, connect with others, and share their voices through creativity.
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the teachers from all participating schools. Despite their busy schedules and many commitments, they went above and beyond to support their students and prepare artwork for the exhibition. Their passion for the arts and continued encouragement made this event possible and gave students the opportunity to shine.
We are currently seeking sponsorship opportunities for our 2027 events. If you, your organisation, or your employer would be interested in supporting these inspiring community initiatives through sponsorship or donation, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please do get in touch to find out how you can help support young creativity and the arts within our community.
The MK Open Young Artist for Secondary schools will be held in the Barn Gallery in October 2026, and will be open to the public on Sunday 4th October, we hope to see you all there!
