Birmingham Artist Launches Landmark Coach Art Competition

A Birmingham artist is launching a children’s art competition giving kids the chance to see their favorite landmark on the side of a coach. 

Professional artist Paul Parkin is calling on kids in Birmingham to pick up their pens and enter National Express’ Color the Coach competition – an initiative for youngsters to see their drawings of UK landmarks splashed across the side of a coach.

To enter children are being asked to draw their favorite local landmark and Paul, who is well known in Brum for his coffee-based paintings, got the ball rolling by drawing his own favorite - the famous Bull sculpture in the Bullring shopping center.

As part of ‘Color the Coach’, National Express is enlisting the help of local artists to launch the competition in regions all over the UK, and Paul has been picked to judge entries from the West Midlands.

The best design, as chosen by Paul, will be turned into a special one-off ‘landmark livery’ to go on a National Express coach, while the winner will also be presented with a £50 check.

Paul, 54, lives in Castle Bromwich and owns Jinx Art gallery based in the Custard Factory in High St Deritend,

He said, “I’m really pleased to launch this fantastic competition in my home city and I can’t wait to see all the creativity and original designs produced by local kids. What a great opportunity to proudly watch your design of your favorite landmark rolling across the region on a moving canvas.”

Giving advice to competition hopefuls, Paul added, “I want kids to put their own original style and stamp on their work so whatever their favorite landmark is, give it your own personal flavor.”

National Express UK Coach Managing Director Tom Stables said, “This competition is a great opportunity for mini-Monets in Birmingham to show us their skills and have their masterpiece touring around the country taking pride of place on one of our coaches. We are encouraging all kids to pick up their pens and have a go at Color the Coach.”

The local winner will see their picture boldly displayed on one of the many daily coach services that roll out of Birmingham’s Digbeth-based coach station everyday.
 
‘Color the Coach’ is open to children aged 5-15 and entrants should simply draw their favorite local landmark on an A4 sheet of paper using whatever drawing materials they want.

Entrants have until Monday 18 July, to unlock their inner Rembrandt's and send in an entry to National Express.

Entries to the competition must be landscape designs on A4 paper and need to be sent to National Express Coach Art Competition, National Express House, Mill Lane, Birmingham, B5 6DD.