A Tenby schoolgirl has fought off competition from across Wales to see her artwork splashed all over the side of a National Express coach.

Twelve-year-old Katie Dickinson put pen to paper and drew her favourite local landmark - Tenby’s Castle Beach and St. Catherine’s Island - after she was looking for things to do in the summer and spotted the Colour the Coach competition.

Colour the Coach is a nationwide drawing competition where kids aged five to 15 are asked to draw their favourite local landmark. The winning designs in each region, as chosen by a local artist, are turned into a special one-off livery to go on the side of a coach.

Katie decided to draw Castle Beach as it is one of her favourite places to be in Tenby and has a beautiful view of the St Catherine’s Island and Fort.

Welsh illustrator Alison Lodge, who judged entries from Wales, said: “Katie’s design was really impressive, it included plenty of colour, good skill and really captured the spirit of a nice day on the beach. Congratulations to her!”.

Katie, who studies at Greenhill School, was shocked and delighted when she found out she had won the competition in Wales.

“Oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe it,” she said.“I once won a Tenby in Bloom poster competition when I was in Junior School, but I never thought I would win a national competition.

“I have always enjoyed drawing and painting and art is one of my favourite subjects at school,” she added.

“When I saw the competition, I thought why not give it a go. I love spending time on the beach and chose a summer scene on the town’s Castle Beach for my entry as it is probably my favourite.

“Now I hope others will also enjoy seeing it on the side of the coach as it travels around the country and, who knows, perhaps they may even hop aboard and come to Tenby to see it for themselves.”

Her mum Alison was also shocked when she received the call from the coach company to say Katie had won.

“It came completely out of the blue,” she said, “but it was certainly a nice surprise to receive the news.

“Katie enjoys drawing and often has a pad and pencil with her sketching scenes when she is out and about, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that one day one of her pictures would be adorning the side of a coach.

“She obviously has hidden talents (although perhaps no longer quite so hidden!) and it’s amazing to think that her picture can be enjoyed by others around the country, as well as helping promote Tenby and its wonderful beaches to potential visitors.”

National Express Coach, managing director, Chris Hardy, said: “I’m delighted to announce Katie as the winner of Colour the Coach 2017 in Wales. She’s clearly talented and her drawing looks fantastic on the side of our coach.

“We are keen to promote youth talent as part of our Youth Promise, so it’s fantastic that Katie’s work will be on display for all to see as it travels around the region.”