IT was a surprise picture that has won two Hampshire schoolgirls a few more hugs from their mums.
Not only that Amie Suso and Dana Donnelly have earned themselves and their families a pass to Marwell Zoo after scooping the top prizes in the Daily Echo’s Draw Your Mum competition.
A judging panel decided that they both deserved the top prizes after capturing their mums in felt-tip pens and pencil drawings.
Seven-year-old Amie won the six-to-ten category and was delighted to hear that she had beaten off competition from other budding young artists from across the county.
Amie from Eastleigh said: “Thank you so much. I did take a bit of time to do it. I really love colouring. It is my favourite thing to do.”
The youngster, who goes to The Crescent primary school, said she is looking forward to visiting the zoo as part of her prize.
Proud mum Lorna Suso, 28, pictured below with Amie, said: “She did the picture with her auntie and cousin so it was really lovely to see it in the paper. I am very proud of her, she does enjoy drawing and I think it does look a bit like me.”
Another mum with a reason to be extra proud of her daughter was Tracey Donelly, 40, who was shocked to see the picture of herself in the Daily Echo drawn by her four-year-old daughter Dana.
She said: “Dana did it with her nanny so it was a complete surprise for me to see it in the paper. I think she did a great job and she will be so pleased as she really does enjoy colouring. It is the first thing she does at pre-school.”
The Draw Your Mum competition was launched by the Daily Echo last month and challenged children across Hampshire to send in a drawing of their mum for a chance to win a prize for their family.
Dana Donnelly's winning drawing
Amie Suso's winning drawing
In a supplement ahead of the big day we revealed the children who had sent in their artwork and asked readers to vote for their favourites. The top pictures were then put before a panel of judges.
The winning works of art were picked out by our panel of judges who thought Dana’s bright and breezy picture of her mum surrounded by love hearts and flowers was very accomplished for a four-year-old whilst the detail that seven-year-old Amie managed to include in her portrait was commendable.
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