AN experienced Warminster artist has been shortlisted for a prestigious award for his latest oil painting, which will be on display in a London gallery in March.

Martin Yeoman, of West Street, is one of 80 artists whose work has made the cut from 1,100 who entered this year’s Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, which will see the winner walk away with £15,000.

The 63-year-old’s oil canvas painting, called Sophia after the model, will be exhibited at Mall Galleries in The Mall between March 6-18.

He said: “I found out I’d been shortlisted a week ago and was delighted.

“But I’m also trying not to get ahead of myself just yet as there are lots of fantastic artists in the running and it’s very difficult pleasing a panel of judges who all have different tastes.

“I used to be very cynical and thought there was no point in these competitions unless I won, but now I recognise they're a fantastic way of gaining exposure for my work, even if I don’t win.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing my work hung up in the gallery; it always looks very different when it’s next to other artists’ work.”

Mr Yeoman, who has a 19-year-old son, has been painting professionally for 40 years and has scooped 10 awards, with the first in 1976 and the most recent in 2016.

“It took around 15 hours to paint Sophia, with seven separate sittings each lasting around two hours,” added Mr Yeoman.

“A lot of people don’t appreciate that being a life model is very difficult; they have to remain completely focussed throughout and it can take a very long time."

The Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize for figurative and representational art offers total prize money of £30,000, with a first prize of £15,000 and a gold medal, second prize of £4,000 and the newly-introduced People’s Prize worth £2,000.

The winners will be selected and announced on March 6 at an event held at the Mall Galleries.