By Andrew Clarke

Published at 11:05, Thursday, 16 August 2012

A TALENTED artist has put her work on public display for the first time – and earned a top prize.

Congratulations: Kelly Archer collects her award from John Stokes, the gallery manager at Rheged

Kelly Archer’s watercolour Geisha Girl – featuring a Bengal cat and Japanese quince flowers – impressed the judges at The Lakes Artists’ Society Summer Exhibition and she was awarded a £400 prize in the Rheghed Award category for a piece of figurative work by an artist aged under 35.

“My husband encouraged me to enter the painting; this is the first time I have had a picture in an exhibition so to get accepted into the exhibition is very exciting, but to win an award is just amazing,” said Kelly, 30, now living in Beckermet and originally of Cleator Moor.

The exhibition, in Grasmere Village Hall, attracts over 10,000 visitors and particularly encourages younger artists. It runs until September 5, daily from 10.30am to 5pm.

“I have been drawing animals and wildlife since I was three and I would like to make a full-time career out of it,” added Kelly.

Visit Kelly’s website at www.benjablue.com.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk