Eaton Community College Year 10 student Siobhan Dyer claims second prize in Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists

A Year 10 student from Eaton Community College has won second prize in one of the State’s most prestigious youth art competitions.

Siobhan Dyer was named as a finalist in the 20th Annual Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists and on July 18 was awarded second prize for her colour pencil self-portrait entitled Pressure.

More than 1600 entries from school students across the State were in the running to win the award and 50 finalists were selected by judges in July.

Siobhan was the only South West finalist in the competition and one of only three regional students to make the top 50.

The finalists’ work was professionally framed and displayed at the Subiaco Public Library where the awards night took place, officiated by Subiaco Mayor David McMullen.

Australian artist, writer and film maker Shaun Tan, whom the award was named after, appeared via live video link to offer advice to the young artists on the night.

Tan said Siobhan’s work was “at once frightening and humorous” and suggested the work represented “the pressure and inner conflict we all create for ourselves”.

Meanwhile, the judges commended Siobhan for her “technical detail” in rendering “each and every hair strand.”

Siobhan’s work will be on display at the Subiaco Library until August 7.