Artist celebrates prestigious commission

Miss Rudge, 28, who works at the Red Forge Gallery in Station Road, was contacted by the Standard Chartered Bank after they noticed her work at an exhibition.

"It's fantastic for an artist who is just starting out to get a commission like this, I'm very happy," she said.

"The bank wanted something that would fit the multicultural theme of being an international organisation, so I am painting a lady from Thailand and a black man I know who lives in Frome.

"It's an artist's dream to be commissioned for something like this and then get the chance to choose their own subjects for the paintings."

When finished, the paintings will be hung at the bank's premises in London.

Miss Rudge, who has lived and worked in Corsham for the past three years, was able to fufill her dream of becoming a full-time artist after being awarded a grant by the Prince's Trust.

After finishing a degree in fine art at Cardiff she was able to apply for a £1,500 grant after undergoing vigorous interviews to show how serious she was about setting up alone.

She said: "That money helped me buy all the equipment I needed like a camera, computer and materials.

"Otherwise I would have had to go to the bank and then I would have had to pay back an enormous amount of interest."

Miss Rudge was also allocated a mentor on behalf of the Prince's Trust.

Ray Spurr, an accountant, is on hand to help her with her business and offer advice.

She said: "I am currently looking for a new studio as the Red Forge Gallery is going to close at the end of March.

"It's very hard to find somewhere with the right lighting and somewhere that has all the things I require."

Miss Rudge does not drive so is ideally looking for somewhere close to home.

She said: "It's getting scarily close to the closing date, I am not sure what I am going to do, especially as I am in the middle of these portraits."

If you can help, contact Miss Rudge on 07811 277917.