CHILDREN are being encouraged to get arty and paint a picture of the Queen with one winning portrait set to appear in the shops.

Brighton artists Lucy Cran and Bill Leslie, known as Leap Then Look, want young people aged seven to eleven to pick up a brush and get creative.

Paintings of the Queen can then be sent to My Little Masterpiece, a project by nappy care brand Sudocrem, which would see the winning design printed of a limited edition pot of My Little Sudocrem.

Lucy said: "We believe there are huge benefits to making art and engaging with new ways of looking and thinking.

The Argus: Lucy Cran and Bill LeslieLucy Cran and Bill Leslie

“Creative activities support the development of vital life skills and overall wellbeing. Children need access to art more than ever.”

Ahead of the Queen’s platinum jubilee this week, Sudocrem asked 1,000 children which public figure they would most like to paint.

The Queen topped the scoreboard with 46 per cent of the vote, while Ant and Dec came second, and Boris Johnson third.

The Argus: One child's painting of the QueenOne child's painting of the Queen

TV personality Kim Kardashian came last overall, with just one per cent of the vote.

The survey also found that children would like to do more art at school, with 40 per cent saying they would like to spend a whole day painting.