A TEACHER at an independent school outside Oswestry says her class was ‘jumping for joy’ when it found out about winning a national competition.

Pupils from Moreton Hall School in Weston Rhyn were given a Royal Society of Biology BioArtAttack3D award for its ‘butterfly draw’ of beautifully crafted 3D insects.

Jan Miller, from the school, said she and her pupils were ecstatic about winning the Group category for the competition, which was open from October 2023 until January this year.

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The pupils created the work using a range of art materials full of different types of butterflies, with everyone having a favourite.

The ‘Museum Drawer’ displays the results of their eco efforts and records the visiting butterflies spotted in a week in the school garden, including Red Admiral, Holly Blue, and Dingy Skipper, having taken inspiration from a trip to the Natural History Museum.

“Wow, what a surprise,” said Ms Miller.

“My class has just jumped up and down in excitement, and the art technician.

“I wish you could see our head of Biology's beaming face, who taught me the word ‘lepidopterology’ as she studied butterflies for her Masters.

“Both the Biology and Art departments are thrilled. It was lovely that so many children who took part in making a butterfly feel they have won.”

They embraced the collaborative possibility of involving the whole school and individually they could work with their favourite materials.

The children were involved throughout the whole process by helping with the cutting, sorting photographing, and displaying.

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The Royal Society of Biology’s BioArtAttack3D 2023 competition winners also included an individual category won by 11-year-old Aiyara McWilliam, from the Australian International School in Bangkok, Thailand.

A special commendation was also given to Cerys San Martin-Davies, six, from (6) from Merton Park Primary School, London for a depiction of the Great Barrier Reef.  

More than 300 photos of fabulous artworks were submitted by the competition’s entrants this year featuring models of birds, arachnids, and forests.