From dreams to reality

DREAMS have become a stunning reality for one Leaving Certificate student.

Yesterday, life for 17-year-old Jenny Ring was sitting a mock exam at St Paul’s college in Greenhills, Dublin city, trying to concentrate on her exams.

But all the while, her thoughts were drifting to the Tate Modern gallery in London where next month one of her paintings will be unveiled at the international Dreams and Reality exhibition.

“Ever since I was young I loved art. My family always had me drawing and painting. When I got to secondary school I was able to take it up as a subject, said Jenny.

“I entered the competition in school and was chosen for the exhibition. It is a once-off that has given me the chance to explore something different.”

Jenny is one of only 19 people from around the world selected to join the Unilever-sponsored exhibition at the world-renowned Tate Modern gallery.

The native from Greenpark in Walkinstown was selected to represent Ireland in the Under-18 category of the competition.

“The painting is built around the theme of writing in my dreams. It took about four hours to do.

“I used a palette knife so it is really thick off the pad. It gives it a lot of texture.”

Her art teachers, Aideen Gough and Michelle Colleton, entered many of the students into the competition using the opportunity to progress their Leaving Cert course work.

“This is obviously a big achievement for Jenny to get chosen at an international level,” said Ms Gough. “We don’t know of anybody else who has got this far.”

Jenny said she doesn’t know what career she will pursue after her exams but is tempted by the allure of life as a professional artist.