A schoolgirl’s picture of herself in a field of poppies has won first prize in a national art competition.

Ten-year-old Claudia Joarder from Bancroft’s Prep School in Woodford Green had her painting chosen from 1,000 entries as the winner of a competition organised by the Islam Society of Britain.

Encouraged by the school’s Religious Studies department, Claudia entered a competition in which children were asked to show what peace means to them through either a poem or a painting.

Claudia’s painting of a girl surrounded by a field of poppies was voted the unanimous winner of the key stage 2 category by the panel of judges.

Claudia, who had been unaware that she had won the prize until her name was announced in assembly, said she painted her picture close to Remembrance Day and was aware of the significance of the poppy as a sign of peace.

She added: “the girl in the picture is meant to be me!

“I took about two weeks to paint it.”

She was presented with a Kindle as a prize by Vice President of the Islam Society of Britain, Julie Siddiqui, who visited Bancroft’s last Friday.