Pocklington schoolboy Lawrence Mason to see his dream painting displayed at Royal Academy of Arts

HE HAS always dreamed of being an artist.

And now 11-year-old Lawrence Mason has created art from a dream.

His painting of a boy in a bed is to be displayed in a top London gallery after winning a national competition.

Lawrence, a pupil at Pocklington School, created the deep blue artwork for a contest by charity Sightsavers on the theme i:dream.

"When I was six years old, I broke my arm accidentally by falling down the stairs," he said.

"I just had a memory flash while I was sleeping and I had this weird dream about this boy.

"His room was closing in on him and he was on his bed trying to stop it."

The picture impressed a panel of judges so much they awarded Lawrence first place in the National Upper Junior category.

It will be displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Keeper Eileen Cooper helped to pick the winner.

"Lawrence's painting is magical, really magical – that moment you're taken to, jumping up and down on that bed when you were a kid," she said.

"I love the brightness of the blanket and I think it's a fantastic picture."

Many artists take months to produce a piece of work.

But Lawrence's turnaround time was much quicker.

"It took me about five hours at least," he said. "It was in a style I wouldn't normally use."

Like most boys his age, Lawrence loves being outdoors. He shoots and plays rugby with his friends.

His passion for the countryside can be seen in much of his work.

"My style of painting is trees in their different colours and types of woodland," he said. "This one was more of a task for me."

The young artist layered blue paint on with a standard brush.

Normally, he paints with less conventional tools.

"I used normal painting brushes for the dream," he said.

"For my woodlands, I use hairbrushes and things like that.

"It gives a light but a glassy effect."

For the background, Lawrence blended colours using sponges and bathroom towels.

He hopes to become professional artist one day.

"I like painting more than sketching because you can mix colours and come out with anything," he said.

"I quite enjoy drawing cartoons as well. You can watch TV and get a lot of ideas out of that.

"I find it quite fun when there's nothing to do and there are rubbish shows on TV."

Lawrence won a regional award in the same competition last year.

And his parents are delighted with his achievement.

"We're extremely proud," said Lawrence's dad, James.

"It's one of the pluses of Pocklington School that they get chance to express themselves.

"We're very, very pleased and hopeful he will continue with it."

Lawrence's mum Sally agreed with her husband.

"He's done really well," she said. "His art teacher in lower school entered him into the competition.

"He has liked painting from when he was very little."

Sally thinks he picked up the skill from her mother-in-law, who is something of a painter herself.

"He certainly doesn't get it from me," she said.

"He's always having a bit of a doodle. I've always said he should look into doing cartoons and caricatures for a job."

The family will travel to London at the beginning of November to see Lawrence's painting at the Academy.

With his teacher Sarah Green, Lawrence will go on the London Eye River Cruise to see the city's sights before heading to an awards ceremony.

The 37 regional winners and runners-up will also have their work showcased in the exhibition.

They include another pupil from Pocklington School, who was selected as a regional winner in the Upper Juniors category.

Ms Cooper said she had been impressed by the quality of all the art entered.

"I am delighted to have been involved in this important project," she said.

"I have been very moved by all the amazing entries from children across the country.

"It has been great to see young artists embracing painting with such enthusiasm."

Award organiser Sightsavers is a charity that works to prevent blindness in developing countries.