Edinburgh pupils Christmas card designs brighten up Princes Street

And the smiles from three of the winning pupils were equally bright as they launched the designs amidst the buzz of Christmas shoppers yesterday.

Eilidh Armstrong, 9, from Braidburn Primary School beamed from ear to ear as her card design flickered to life behind her.

“It was a really good feeling to win! And it’s exciting that lots of people will see it.”

Hundreds of pupils across the city entered the competition to design the cards for the Communities & Families Services of the City of Edinburgh Council.

In total 12 designs will be shown on the digital screens up and down Princes Street with three of them being chosen by education convener councillor Cammy Day, vice convener councillor Cathy Fullerton and acting executive director Alistair Gaw as their official Christmas cards.

Winner Petra McLaughlin, 11, who is a pupil at Longstone Primary School, has recently moved to Scotland from California and despite the cold is enjoying living in Edinburgh and developing her artistic talent.

“I love drawing and I have recently starting learning to draw anime as well.

“Having my design chosen was like a mini celebration. Everyone was clapping and it was such a rush.”

Keen artist Klaudia Gorazdowska, 12, who attends Broughton High School, was pleased her design was chosen as the overall winner. “I’m really into art after taking more of an interest in it towards the end of P7.

“It’s actually quite nice to know that lots of people will see my drawing and to know that other people like your work, not just your family!”

The Christmas card competition is an annual event and for the second year JCDecaux offered the added incentive of 12 lucky pupils having their designs shown on their digital advertising screens in Princes Street.

Cllr Day said: “The quality of the entries was extremely high so it was really difficult for us to pick just 12 to go on the screens, with three of them going on to be chosen as our Christmas cards.

“It’s really exciting for the pupils and their families to see the designs on public show and they will definitely bring festive cheer to shoppers on Princes Street.

“All the entries deserve special mention and I’m delighted that JCDecaux have once again allowed designs to be displayed on the bus shelters in Princes Street.”

Suzanne Williamson, development director at JCDecaux, said: “This is the second year that we’ve worked in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to bring the beautiful Christmas cards to our digital screens in Princes Street – creating a stunning showcase for the talented young artists in the city.”

The designs will be displayed until Christmas Day and in addition from December 12 they will also be on display at Edinburgh Waverley Train Station.