Welcoming the Year of the Horse with our ESF Lunar New Year Card

A powerful horse, sketched as if forged from fire, gallops across this year’s ESF Lunar New Year card. 

Sparks fly as the animal’s flowing tail forms 2026 – a thoughtful detail bringing symbolism and celebration together as we prepare to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse.

The striking artwork was created by 13-year-old Grace Poon, our talented Year 9 student from ESF Renaissance College. 

Her design was selected by our Chief Executive Officer, Belinda Greer, as the winning entry in our annual ESF Lunar New Year art challenge.

This year’s competition attracted hundreds of entries from students across the ESF schools, from kindergarten through to secondary. Paintings, drawings, collages, and digital artworks showcase not only artistic talent but also the diverse ways that our students engage with Lunar New Year traditions.

Belinda told us, “Grace’s design really stood out – not only for the artistic skill she shows, but also for her creative interpretation of the Year of the Fire Horse. I was particularly impressed by how Grace conveys movement, energy, and strength, and by her use of bold colour and texture to capture the spirit of celebration that defines this special time of year. Well done to Grace on this achievement, and to all the students who shared their creativity with us.”

Talking about her winning design, Grace told us: “I drew inspiration from a popular Chinese idiom – 馬當先 (yī ma dāng xiān), which symbolises taking the lead with courage and determination. In Chinese culture, horses represent leadership with boundless energy and ambition.”

Grace used her artwork to highlight the significance of the Year of the Fire Horse, which occurs every 60 years in the Chinese calendar and is often associated with periods of rapid change.

“I designed the composition to make the horse look as if it were racing towards new opportunities and incorporated sharp paint strokes along the horse’s body and legs to represent strength and bravery.”

Talking about her artistic process, Grace explains that she started by creating multiple detailed sketches on paper. Once she was happy with her artwork, she used digital tools to refine the colour and textures.

When asked what she enjoys most about learning art at school, Grace told us, “It allows me to turn my ideas into physical pieces of work on a canvas, letting me share my thoughts and who I am as a person. I love experimenting with different styles, especially as our art teachers encourage us to try new things with our own stylisation, making learning fun.”

Andrew Deakin, Head of Visual Arts at ESF Renaissance College, shared his pride, saying, “Grace’s achievement is a testament to her creativity, diligence, and dedication. Her thoughtful concept and meticulous attention to detail truly captured the spirit of the festival.”

Grace leaves us with a powerful reflection, saying, “To me, the Year of the Fire Horse represents a new beginning filled with opportunities, hope, and renewal. The galloping horse symbolises progress, leadership, and optimism – a reminder to pursue new goals with courage.”

We hope you enjoy sharing this beautiful card with your community as we welcome the Year of the Horse together.

Click here to download the e-card.

From left: Geoff Wheeler, Head of Secondary at ESF Renaissance College; our winning student, Grace Poon; Belinda Greer, ESF Chief Executive Officer; and Andrew Deakin, Head of Visual Arts at ESF Renaissance College.