A YOUNG artist who froze in paint the image of her brother just before he fell through the ice is to exhibit her work in London.
Former Northallerton College student Lois Ancell photographed her brother Jack as he walked across icy floods at Romanby Golf Course.
Seconds later the ice cracked and the 17-year-old fell up to his knees into freezing cold muddy water.
“He was cold and very muddy but at least I got the image I wanted before he fell,” said Lois, 19, of Romanby.
From the picture she used acrylic paint to capture the rear view of Jack to produce On Ice, an artwork that will be exhibited at the prestigious Mall Galleries in London from March 4-15.
Just 27 pieces nationally have been chosen for the exhibition. Lois and her family will travel down for the private viewing.
And the venture will be a double celebration as she will also collect her gold Duke of Edinburgh award.
The exhibition is the result of an annual competition run by the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies in partnership with the Royal Society of British Artists.
Its aim is to select a number of high calibre final year A level artworks to be exhibited in the prestigious gallery.
The shortlisted students will all be given the title RBA Scholar while their work is on show, alongside that of professional artists, at the RBA’s annual exhibition. The ultimate accolade, the NADFAS John Ingram Memorial Prize, will be awarded to one of the RBA Scholars.
Lois’ work was one of four pieces by students from Northallerton College selected for entry by head of art Jean Lake and art teacher Ian Ord, together with Debbie Burrows, Hambleton Decorative and Fine Arts Society’s Young Arts Representative.
Selection is a major achievement as 40 NADFAS Societies throughout the country submitted 277 artworks from 62 schools.
Lois will also be joined at the private viewing by a member of staff from Northallerton College and a representative from the Hambleton DFAS.
She said: “I never expected this to be my best painting. Working in the style of Tim Eitel I left the blurry background until last. When I was painting I really concentrated on the difference in light.
“I suppose the secret is just really concentrating and taking your time. The wellies took me two hours each.”
Mr Ord said: “Lois has an exceptional talent for painting, seeing it as a vehicle for storytelling at the same time as amazing us with her skill and eye for detail.”
Mrs Burrows added: “Our society is keen to encourage young artists to develop their skills and gain recognition for their abilities. We are delighted that Lois’ work will be seen by a wider audience in London.”
