AN AWARD-winning artist from Thornbury has been chosen out of nearly 2,000 painters to exhibit her work at the National Portrait Gallery in London this summer.

Sophie Ploeg’s self portrait will be on display at the world-renowned museum as part of the prestigious BP Portrait Award 2013 from June 20 to September 15.

The painting will be shown alongside 54 innovative portraits from British and international artists.

The Dutch-born painter told the Gazette she was elated to have been handpicked to exhibit her work at the "Holy Grail" of art galleries.

"They had 1,969 entries," said the 39-year-old. "It’s every portrait artist’s goal. It’s the Holy Grail of portrait galleries. I did a little dance when I found out. It’s a real honour."

Although not shorlisted for the BP Awards themselves, being part of the longlist was an incredible achievement, the mother-of-two said.

"I was not shortlisted but it’s great to be exhibited there," she said. "It’s one of the most popular exhibitions that they do every year. The exhibition will travel around the UK, to Aberdeen and then Wolverhampton. It will be seen by thousands of people."

Sophie’s paintings have been displayed at the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol, the Holburne Museum in Bath and the Mall Galleries in London.

In 2011, she won the Winsor & Newton Choice Award at the Society of Women Artists’ annual exhibition.

While preparing for the BP awards, Sophie set herself the added challenge of submitting a self portrait – an exercise which proved simultaneously tricky and liberating.

"I have been exploring self portraits with a certain intrigue and some reluctance in the past year," she said.

"I have done many sketches and drawings, while feeling awkward, vain and self-conscious, but after a while that gets put aside and I can focus on the image.

"Knowing your own features gives a certain freedom to explore and play with light and composition without having to worry about likeness."

Sophie will open her studio (5 Crossways Road) to the public as part of the Severn Vale Art Trail on Sunday, May 5, Monday 6 and Sunday 12 from 10am to 4pm.