YOUNG artist Katie Egerton has chalked up national acclaim with her winning portrait of the Queen in a Blue Peter competition.

The seven-year-old was one of just 50 winners from a total of more than 18,000 entries in the children's TV show's My Queen Elizabeth competition for the Golden Jubilee.

Now her Royal likeness is hanging in the National Gallery in London and it will be touring as part of the exhibition visiting Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh.

Katie, who goes to Crown East Middle School, in Alvechurch, and mum Sarah were honoured guests at the gala opening and were treated to an open top bus tour of London. Katie met Blue Peter presenter Liz Barker and was seen on the programme featuring the event.

"She always watches, so it was a real thrill for her to win a competition," said Sarah, of Blackwell Road, Barnt Green.

"She's always drawing. She decided to use chalks and made up the portrait because she didn't have a picture of the Queen to copy. I think it's based on her Grandma!"

Top illustrator Quentin Blake, one of the judges, picked out her picture himself.