Mini Masters
An Art Education Project for the Hilliard Society

Since 2017 Jenny Brooks kindly organised a Mini Masters Project to encourage children and young people to have a go at Miniature painting. The children's entries were then exhibited alongside the Annual Exhibition in Wells Town Hall in Somerset. There will be no Mini Masters taking place in 2023.

Mini masters 2021

In 2021, the winner of the 11 to 18 year old age group (An image of a recent holiday landscape and A portrait of a relevant character in the landscape)  of the Mary Powell Award was Lauren for 'Venice – Gondolier' and runner up was Abby for 'Sunset at Woolacombe'.

In the 7 to 10 year old age group (An image of a recent holiday landscape and A portrait of a relevant animal in the landscape)  the winner of the Mary Powell Award was Sarah for 'A Squirrel at Lake Agnes Tea House' and the runner up was Spencer for 'Plane in the Sky and Runaway Cow'.

Two Australian candidates, twins Sarah and Anna (pictured), having completed their artwork had great difficulty sending it by post as no planes were flying during lockdown. Alternatively by sea it would have taken 50 days to arrive so their entries were emailed. I think the picture of both Anna and Sarah says it all!

mini masters 2019

In 2019 the winner of the Great Art Award for 11-18 age group (Portrait of a family member and a Decorative Illustrated Letter) was Grace, aged 11, for  'Brother William' and 'Letter M'. Highly Commended was Lauren, aged 13.

In the 7-10 age group (A Portrait of a Family Member &  An Image of their Favourite Hobby) the winner of the Great Art Award was Lottie, aged 9,  for  'Sam My Brother' and 'Musical Violin'.  Highly Commended runner up was William, aged 9 (also pictured left with Jenny). 

mini masters 2017 and 2018



In 2017 two age groups were invited to paint a portrait based on Holbein's famous work of Anne of Cleves (with the kind permission of Victoria and Albert Publications) and in 2018 they were invited to submit paintings of their pets or the view from their window, working from life or their own images. Certificates are awarded for each entry completing the project. 





Right - One of the successful young artists, Charlotte, receiving her Certificate for Exceptional Art Work for the 2017 'Anne of Cleves' project from Jenny Brooks.