TWO Devon artists have been shortlisted for the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize — one of the UK’s most respected prizes for representational painting.

Paintings by Tania Skeaping, from Okehampton, and John Sellings, from Lapford, are among the 130 works of art that have been selected for exhibition by a distinuguished panel of judges.

The prize, now in its eleventh year, offers total prize money of £30,000, including a first prize of £15,000.

The competition is particularly popular with young contemporary painters and art students. The Young Artist Award of £2,500 is a coveted prize for those 25 or under. It aims to promote the tradition of painting and support fresh new talent.

For the second year the competition has offered the Brian Botting Prize of £5,000. This is awarded to an artist aged 30 or under for an outstanding representation of the human figure.

There are also five runner-up prizes, each with a chance to win £1,500.

The winners of these prizes will be announced at a ceremony in the Mall Galleries on March 7.

Tania Skeeping’s entry, ‘Abandoned Look-out’, depicts a lookout post built in the Second World War by the Germans as part of the defence against a possible Allied landing. It is a poignant reminder of Europe’s recent past and is gradually being taken away by the sea.

John Sellings’ painting entitled ‘Martine’ John describes his artwork as ‘observational’.

Tania and John’s work will be on show at the Mall Galleries, London from March 7 to March 13.