Members of Carla Terry's Red Robin Arts Academy have been shortlisted for The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks art competition at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington.

An exhibition of the artwork that make it to the final will run at the centre between 12 – 15 September.

The competition is open to any amateur artist from seven-years-old onwards and is supported by the Landmark Arts Centre.

The aim is to showcase the most "Inspiring Elements" of either Bushy or Home Park that will encourage others to explore and respect the beauty of the parks.

This competition is the first of Friends of Bushy and Home Parks Park Art Competition.

Among those shortlisted from the Red Robin Arts Academy are its founder, Carla Terry, three of her adult students, some of which are from Kingston, and three of her child students, including nine-year-old Lola who created an exceptional drawing of a chaffinch bird.

Nine-year-old Lola's drawing of a chaffinch bird at Bushy Park has been shortlisted for the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks Art Competition (Credit: Carla Terry)

According to Terry, there are lots of chaffinch birds at Bushy Park.

Some of Terry's students went to the Bushy and Home Parks to do their artwork there while others took photos to work from and created their work in Terry's studio or at home.

The shortlisted work from Terry's students consists of pen and ink drawings, and acrylics.

Carla Terry and six oh her Red Robin Arts Academy students have been shortlisted for the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks Art Competition (Credit: Carla Terry)

Having been an art teacher at primary and secondary schools for 25 years, Terry decided to create a studio in her home on Seymore Road behind Hampton Station last September where she began Red Robin Arts Academy.

She told Kingston Nub News that her interest in art began when she joined adult art classes.

She said: "the adult classes are where I did most of my learning, so I'm sort of self-taught.

"The adult classes inspired me to finally take the leap and set up my own."

Carla Terry (Credit: Carla Terry)

Terry runs nine classes a week for artists of all abilities from Kingston, Teddington, and Hampton Wick.

Her studio has got "all the materials in it, so no one has to bring anything," she said.

Terry's students work with a range of different tools, from oil paints to charcoal to pen and ink, and collage.

Terry provides all the tools necessary her Red Robin Arts Academy students in her home studio (CRedit: Carla Terry)

She says that she's got "some really talented students who've been to art college and work in the arts".

 She said: I've also got disabled students and students with special needs as well as a lady who's had a stroke."

Her students' ages range from nine to ninety.

Speaking about the competition, Terry said: " I think they've even created a local map from all the artworks in the finals, so that anyone that goes to the exhibition can get a map and then go on a little walk to see all of the inspiration for the artworks that were submitted."

You can find out more about Terry's classes on the Red Robin Arts Academy website.