The Span Arts’ Cheerful Project will be celebrating the winners of their Cheerful Colouring Book competition tomorrow (Saturday) at the Big Plant Sale in Narberth as part of SpringFest 2017.

Two winners and two runners-up will be receiving prizes for their exceptional contributions to this crowd-sourced book which highlights what makes people happy in West Wales.

Best-selling colouring book illustrator Millie Marotta chose 10-year-old Nia-Anne Morgan’s Cat as the winner and local artist Holly Hart’s Dormouse as runner-up in the Millie’s Choice category.

Millie commented: “This is a cheerful book encouraging everyone to have a go at drawing and colouring. It has been a pleasure sifting through the entries and an almost impossible challenge deciding on a winner.”

Joseph Griffiths (aged eight) and Bella Grainger (aged 10) were chosen by the public as the People’s Choice winner and runner-up and will also be receiving prizes at the ceremony which will take place at 2 pm tomorrow (Saturday) at the Span Art’s Big Plant Sale, where you will also be able to purchase your own copy to colour in.

For the final book, 40 original illustrations were selected representing the incredible variety of images submitted to the competition; from chickens to cupcakes, Pembrokeshire’s marvellous beaches to the wise mysteries of the Jedi Master Yoda…it seems your reasons to be cheerful are almost endless!

Rowan Matthiessen, Cheerful Project manager, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to the competition with submissions from a wide variety of people aged six to 80-years-old; the entries were of an incredibly high standard and it was very difficult choosing the final shortlist.”

The competition has been enhanced by the involvement of UK best-selling illustrator, Millie Marotta; based in Tenby, she has made a name for herself internationally with her intricate nature-based colouring books. Millie judged the competition and provided her top-tips and a whole host of wonderful prizes for the talented winners.

The Cheerful Colouring Book was made possible by one of Span Arts’ amazing volunteers; Liam Cole is a young digital illustrator based in Neyland who recently graduated from Carmarthen School of Art and has worked tirelessly translating The Cheerful Project’s wild idea into this beautiful book-shaped reality.

The book will also be available to buy from the Span Arts Gallery in Narberth or to order online from the Span Arts website spanarts.org.uk for the price of £5+p&p.

The Span Arts’ Cheerful Project is an arts initiative, funded by the Big Lottery which brings people together to socialise creatively. By buying and colouring in this book, you can increase your own happiness whilst knowing you are supporting the work of this great organisation. To find out more, call Span Arts on (01834) 869323 or visit the website.