Artist thrilled after works are picked forprestige exhibitions

Now he has had his work accepted for the BP Portrait Award Exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery.

His work, Love Painting – Portrait of my wife Jackie and our cat Amy, Redbrick Mill Studio, 2010, was selected from over 2100 entries, and will be part of the exhibition at the NPG from June 24 to September 19.

It will then travel to The Usher Art Gallery, Lincoln and Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Mr Noble said: "I'm absolutely delighted. I was determined to prove that getting into the exhibition in 2008 was not a fluke. I think to get in twice proves that the work I am doing is intelligent, interesting and of a high quality."

He hopes it will lead to further commissions. "Since leaving teaching I need to earn a living through my work. This is not a hobby, even though it's great fun."

He works at his studio in Redbrick Mill, Batley Carr.

He said: "Stephen and Sarah Battye, the mill owners, have given me great support and encouragement over more than 10 years. Without their support I doubt I would have achieved any of this and I thank them from the bottom of my heart."

His Portrait of Austin Mitchell MP and his wife Linda at home in Yorkshire will be in The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition at The Mall Galleries, London from May 6-19.

After seeing his work in the BP Portrait Award exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in 2008, Linda Mitchell contacted him and commissioned their portrait, which will eventually hang in their Sowerby home.

He said: "It was great fun to do, a great challenge. Austin and Linda were both terrific to work with, always very co-operative and always giving great support, encouragement and honest criticism."

In 2003 the 47-year-old artist and former teacher at Batley Parish CE School gained a new perspective on his much-loved Dewsbury by painting a bird's-eye view from Sprinkwell Mill on the edge of the town centre.

Further details of Mr Noble's work can be found at www.tonynoble-artist.com