Schoolboy has painting displayed in National Portrait Gallery (From Times Series)

Hendon schoolboy has painting displayed in National Portrait Gallery

4:02pm Friday 15th June 2012 in News By Emma Innes

A seven-year-old schoolboy from Hendon has won the chance to have his portrait of the Queen hung in the National Portrait Gallery.

Lorenzo Diamantopoulos, of Brampton Grove, won the under 8s category of a competition run by the museum and The Sun newspaper.

The St Joseph’s Infant School pupil was crowned King of Arts beating youngsters from across the UK.

His painting of a smiling Queen covered in jewels will be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square alongside some of the world’s most famous portraits of Her Majesty.

It will be part of the exhibition, The Queen: Art and Image, which is currently on show.

Lorenzo’s art was chosen as the winner by a panel of judges which included Arthur Edwards, The Sun’s royal photographer, and Paul Moorehouse, Curator of the National Portrait Gallery.

Mr Edwards said: “Well done Lorenzo. This wonderful oil painting shows great imagination for such a young child.”

The arty streak appears to run through the family as Lorenzo's sister, Anastasia, four, was a runner-up in the competition.