Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen talks about mothers (and being a dad)

Judged by a panel of experts including celebrity interior designer star Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, the winning picture was created by Jenny Downing, 59, whose simple photograph of a mum and child in India wowed the judges.

“I took this photo in India where I was working. It depicts the natural instinct for a mother to protect her child,” winner Jenny explained. “In the image she is putting a hat on her child to protect them from the sun. This encapsulates motherhood for me.”

Also selected as winner in the under-18s category was 14-year-old Alice Curtis, whose photo showed a mum and daughter running on a beach with their dogs. Both winners received £1,000 worth of photography equipment and will have their winning photos printed on Hallmark Cards.

After the winners were chosen, we caught up with former Changing Rooms presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to find out his views on the winning pictures.

What inspired you to get behind the Hallmark Cards Picture of Motherhood campaign?

I think it’s difficult to get people to find the time and be really creative. However, I felt that this campaign was really approachable in a roll your sleeves up kind of way. Many mums entered, we had a huge response and a wider audience than we had hoped. It was a great way to get everyday mums to put their creative caps on and show us what motherhood is all about.

How did you choose the winners? (Jenny Dowling, 59, and Alice Curtis, 14)

It was the personal reaction of the photograph that made me think they were winners. The pictures were surprisingly universal – not flowery clichés and didn’t feel set-up. They had an almost documentary feel to them, with lots of power and presence and not manufactured at all. I wasn’t looking for anything too glossy or too remote, and I think ultimately we nailed it.

Were they any other stand out images that captured your interest?

There were so many amazing and inspiring pictures submitted it was a very difficult decision to make. However, we compromised and now five other pictures will feature on the Hallmark cards as we thought they were too precious to deem them as runners up

How would you encourage mums to be more creative?

I would say that it is all about personality. Express yourself as freely as you want and can. Never feel frightened and don’t hold back from creating your own collection of personal things, whatever they might be.

Mothers aside, how would you describe fatherhood?

It’s wonderful. I’m really lucky as my two children are like little show ponies and I actually like them! Could you imagine how irritating it would be if you didn’t like your own children?