PAINTINGS produced by a South Gloucestershire artist have been selected from a “record number” of entries to appear in two major art exhibitions in London.

22-year-old Kieran Naish, from Wick, submitted two paintings for the exhibitions, which will take place at the Mall Galleries in London in March.

His oil painting “View from the Tate Modern” has also been nominated for the Lynn Painter-Stainers prize - a prestigious award for UK artists that has prize money of £15,000.

Kieran, a graduate from Bath Spa University, said: “I’m very pleased and overwhelmed to have my paintings accepted for two major London exhibitions.

“I was also really surprised to be shortlisted again for the Lynn Painter-Stainers prize.”

The 22-year-old Topshop sales assistant was put forward for the award last year but unfortunately missed out on a prize.

He’s hoping that this year’s entry will be enough to impress the judges.

He said: “The painting was inspired by the scenery in London – I just love the old and the new architecture and think that it makes a really interesting landscape.”

Whatever the result, the cityscape painting will be on display from March 6 to March 18 at the Mall Galleries in London.

An additional artwork featuring Lansdown Road in Bath will also be on display in an exhibition by the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) from March 22 to April 1, after being selected from a record-breaking 1,600 entries.

The young artist added that his dreams of becoming a successful artist began at the Yate Heritage Centre, where he won commendation in 2013 and first prize in 2014 for work submitted to the annual open art exhibition.

He said: “It’s crazy to think that this all started in Yate.”