THE winner of the third annual Young Art Critics Online (YACON) competition, organised by Kendal's Abbot Hall and The Westmorland Gazette web site, is Holly Rushton, a student at Windermere St Anne's School, for her critique of Nicola Hicks's Sculpture, Drawing & Light exhibition.

Ms Rushton's review of Hicks' artwork, which is on at Abbot Hall until March 9, was entitled A Festival of Sculpture, Drawing and Light.

She wrote: "Hicks has taken armfuls of sand, plaster and straw, combined with bucket-loads of imagination and shaped this magical mixture into a series of sculptures that celebrate the blurred union between man, beast and Mother Nature."

This year's competition saw students, aged 16 18 from schools in the area, critiquing Nicola Hicks's work as distinct', daring' and alive'.

"This is the first time we have presented the students with sculpture," said Abbot Hall deputy director and head of education Cherrie Trelogan.

"It was an exciting opportunity for them and they rose to the challenge."

"Meeting art review and journalism guidelines while critiquing such a unique body of art was an excellent experience for the participants," said Kate Whiteside, Gazette web editor for www.thisisthelakedistrict.

co.uk .

The winner's review will be published on www.thisisthe lakedistrict.co.uk in the Artists In Residence section and www.abbothall.org.uk . She will also spend some work experience at both Abbot Hall and The Westmorland Gazette.