A new poetry competition, launched to celebrate the life and work of the late Glasgow artist Hannah Frank, is now open for entries.

Entrants, who will be divided into five categories depending on age, must write a poem of not more than 40 lines taking their inspiration from any one of Hannah’s distinctive, other-worldly black and white drawings. Entries from schools are especially welcome.

Each person can enter up to three poems. The deadline is midnight 31 March 2010.

The competition has been organised by Hannah Frank’s niece, Fiona Frank, in conjunction with St Mungo Mirrorball Poets Network poet, William Bonar.

The poetry competition is a wonderful way to both celebrate Hannah Frank’s astonishing work, and encourage people to look at drawing and images in a new light. As Children’s Laureate, I am very keen that we encourage young people to learn how to look at drawings and illustration; in fact, to encourage everybody to value the act of looking. Looking is just as important as words and this competition shows the value of both.” The Children’s Laureate, Anthony Browne.

Hannah Frank died at the age of 100 in December 2008. She studied at the Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University, and exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Glasgow Institute, and Royal Academy, throughout her 75 year artistic career. She was the recipient, in June 2009, of the very first Posthumous Honorary Doctorate that Glasgow University has ever given, for services to art and she also received a posthumous award from Glasgow City Council. This competition aims to introduce her work to a new audience.

Fiona had the idea for the competition after St Mungo’s Mirrorball Poets Network gave a lifetime achievement award to Hannah Frank on the occasion of her 100th birthday, 23 August 2008. David Kinloch wrote the poem, The Mocking Fairy, based on Hannah’ drawing from 1931 [printed in full below]. David will judge the Hannah Frank poetry competition and the winners and runners-up, in four under-eighteen age group categories and one adult category, will receive a cash prize and a framed Hannah Frank print of their choice. In the under-18 age groups, the winner’s schools will also receive a framed Hannah Frank print.

Fiona said: “The competition’s prizes will be presented on 23 August 2010, which would have been my aunt’s 102nd birthday. I know she would have approved of a poetry competition of this kind because she was inspired by poetry and literature herself throughout her 75 year artistic career, and she was a poet herself, as well as an artist.”

• Entry to the competition for under-18s is free. Entry for adults (per poem) is £3. An adult entry includes a £3 gift voucher which can be redeemed for Hannah Frank prints and cards in the Hannah Frank online shop on the website http://www.hannahfrank.org.uk

• Downloadable entry forms and full details of the competition are on the Hannah Frank website at http://www.hannahfrank.org.uk