AN artist from Rawtenstall has had one of her paintings selected to be hung in the prestigious Saatchi Gallery in London.

Ellie Ansell, 18, a former Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School student, is one of 20 young artists to have been entered into the final of the gallery’s school competition – from among 16,000 submissions.

Ellie, who is now in her first year at Bournemouth University, will have her work, entitled Meat, stand in the space where internationally-renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Lucian Freud and Tracey Emin have exhibited theirs.

Ellie, who lives with her family in Haworth Avenue when she’s not at university, said: “It was quite surprising when I found out. I knew it was good, but I would never have expected this.

“I’m always critical of my work, and can always see things I could have done better.

“I spent a lot of time on it because I wanted it to be good, and I constantly want to excel myself.”

Diane Bamford, head of art at BRGS, submits pieces of her students’ work every year to the annual competition.

Ellie said: “The painting is more controversial than we would usually do at school.

“It’s concerned with women not being included, being ignored or abused for being women.

“Women’s rights are still a very important issue and that’s what I was thinking about when I painted it.”

The winning artist will receive £2,000, and the school where the artist studied will be given a £10,000 grant.

Ms Bamford said: “For Ellie to be a finalist in this elite competition is a credit to her outstanding talent and it is an incredible accolade.”

The winner will be announced on February 25.