A PAINTING by a young Stourport man has been voted the most popular among more than 300 exhibits on display at one of Wales’ largest art events.

‘Tilted Fudge Puppy’, the air brush painting of the face of a brown Labrador puppy, is the work of 22 year-old Lewis Warby, of York Street.

He was exhibiting in public for the first time and the face of the puppy won over the majority of the visitors to the annual Virgin art exhibition and sale in an ancient parish church in Flintshire last week.

He created the prize-winning exhibit by air brushing water-based paint free hand onto aluminium.

Mr Warby is an air brush artist at Piers Dowell Paintwork in Tenbury Wells and was encouraged to enter the competition by his grandmother, Betty Toland.

Mr Warby said: “Being an amateur artist, I have found it difficult to get my name around and gain a reputation for my portraiture work, and I saw this exhibition as a good way of spreading my name and work further afield than the usual Worcestershire border.

“I had no idea that there was event a competition for the most popular piece at all and I only went with the intention of viewing other art on show, so to arrive and hear the news I had won most popular piece was definitely a massive surprise to me.

“I was so pleased with the result and had such a confidence boost in my work, which has just made me more motivated to get a larger portfolio and continue to do exhibitions whenever available.”