Does Bristol have the next Banksy, Hirst or Hockney?

The Clean Slate Art Exhibitions will launch this Monday with Avon and Somerset police hoping they can find Bristol's next best artistic talent.

The exhibition, which opens at The Paintworks, is showcasing the talent of children and young people from across the city as part of the Clean Slate art competition, one of the police forces latest youth engagement projects. Like many other cities, Bristol has been aiming to increase youth participation in art in recent years with numerous campaigns. Chief Inspector Norman Pascal from Avon and Somerset Police said: "I am absolutely overwhelmed by the artwork and entries we have received so far.

"The talent of the young people across our city is fantastic. There are some wonderful pieces to see. I really encourage as many people to come along and have a look. We need to support and encourage the talents and skills of our young people. The exhibition is free – so please do pop in this week."

Across the region, competition judges will choose the best of the West's artistic talent, whose work will then go on to a month-long exhibition at The Royal West of England Academy in Bristol in July. For all their hard work the 36 finalists will be showing their work alongside professional artists including a recently discovered portrait by Andy Warhol. The controversial "Rudy Vallée" portrait is thought to have been made be by pop art legend Warhol, while he was bed-ridden with chorea at the age of 11. There are five exhibitions taking place across Somerset, Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire over the next month.