In the 16–18 age group, 17-year-old Charley Bell of Methodist College Belfast also won first place.

Ms. Bell is awarded €1,500 for her winning piece, "Anticipation," which is a meticulous coloured pencil portrait.

Gary Granville, Professor Emeritus of Education at the National College of Art and Design and Final Judge, Chairman of the Judging Panel, said of Charley's artwork: "An exceptionally well-executed portrait, that tells of an 'aged serenity', of a full life with a wealth of experience and wisdom."

"There is a subversive energy, irrepressible optimism, and underlying joy in the image that belies the stereotypical portrayal of ageing," Professor Granville stated.

"This wonderful work of art well deserves the top award in this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition."

Ms. Bell won Special Merit Awards in 2020 and 2021 and was the competition's overall winner the previous year.

She found a picture of an elderly woman and thought it would be interesting to bring the emotion in her face to life, which served as the idea for her award-winning portrait.

"I like working with portraits and when I saw this photo the detailed expression on the woman's face jumped out at me immediately," she said.

"I knew it would be a challenging and interesting artwork to take on."

Weronika Jarowinska, a 16-year-old student from Donegal who attends Loreto Secondary School in Letterkenny, placed second in the 16–18 age group and received €1,000 for her piece "Man to Machine."

Young Irish artists vowed to compete with Ms. Bell and the others.

They include the 15 special merit awards, as well as the first, second, and third place winners in seven categories, one of which is designated for children with special needs.

Parents, families, and educators who "encourage children to see in art an outlet through which to demonstrate their individuality and unique talent and ability" were thanked by James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations at Valero Energy (Ireland), the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand.

"Despite the many worldly attractions and devices that vie for the attention of today’s youth, it is extremely gratifying to know that many continue to show an enduring interest in art and to demonstrate their ability in the magnificent prize-winning entries we see today," he stated.