A STAGE star duo popped into a Greenock primary school to surprise a talented young artist.

Boys and girls at Whinhill Primary School welcomed two of the cast of this year's Beacon Arts Centre pantomime as they delivered some exciting news. 

Beauty and the Beast actors Shannon Swan, who plays Belle, and Sam Willison, who plays Prince Sebastian, popped in to see pupils in P5/4 and revealed that pupil Kian O'Shea had won an art competition run by the Beacon. 

Class teacher Jenna Valerio put the whole class forward for the Beacon's crafty contest which challenged youngsters to design a picture which would appear in the venue's panto programme. 

Kian's colourful creation featuring Belle, the Beast, the castle covered in snow, and the rose, was crowned the winning entry. 

Greenock Telegraph:
Shannon and Sam revealed that Kian had won a family ticket to the panto and a tour of the Beacon for his class. 

Kian, nine, said: "It was so exciting and was a big surprise. 

"I really like designing things. 

"It feels really good knowing that a lot of people will get to see my picture."

Whinhill head teacher Liz Ruddy was the first to find out about Kian's win and had to keep the visit a secret. 

Mrs Ruddy added: "It's an amazing thing to have your own artwork published and know that so many people will get the chance to see it and enjoy it. 

"We take our art and design very seriously at Whinhill and work very hard on it across the school."

All of the artwork submitted to the competition is now on display in the Beacon Arts Centre cafe.