Artist in line for £40,000 prize (From South Wales Argus)

Artist in line for £40,000 prize

3:38pm Monday 8th January 2007 in News

WHEN Gwent artist Caroline Champion helped youngsters with behaviour problems create their own mural, she was thrilled at their enthusiasm.

In fact the venture at Mounton House School in Chepstow proved so successful Miss Champion, 45, has been nominated for an international art prize worth £40,000.

The mum-of-one, from Mathern, was stunned when a teacher at the boys' school put her name forward for the Artes Mundi Prize 2008.

"I acted calmly when I got the phone call, but I just wanted to shout 'yes'", said Miss Champion.

Artes Mundi, held every two years, "celebrates artists whose work adds to our understanding of humanity," according to its website.

Miss Champion, a former DJ, spent five days at the special needs secondary school in June for Big Arts Week.

Her brief was to design a mural for the dining room, something easy "with a high impact".

The theme was "boys" so she drew some cartoon-like sketches of sports cars and footballers.

The youngsters painted the designs onto the wall, impressing Miss Champion with their creative skills.

"Some of them were amazing," said the former Chepstow Comprehensive pupil. "They were so enthusiastic. They just flowed with it."

Miss Champion, whose house in Bailey's Hay is painted top to toe in murals and bright colours, gained a degree in multi media at the University of Wales, Newport.

As well as painting, she also makes short animation films with her daughter Tazmin, 11, which can be viewed on the website YouTube.

If she is shortlisted she will be in with a chance of winning and having her art displayed at the National Museum Cardiff.

To win would turn the struggling artists' life around.

"It's every artist's dream to be able to do art and to be financially supported," she said.