Teacher's art on showat London gallery

This portrait has been painted by Carrick man John Cooney.

John Cooney’s watercolour of Michael Battersby has been selected byThe Royal Society of Portrait Painters to go on show at their annual exhibition at Mall Galleries in May.

John explained that he had been taking photographs during a visit to Glasgow when he spotted Michael having a smoke outside a pub.

John’s portrait of Michael was selected from 2,000 to appear alongside paintings by some of Britain’s leading portrait artists.

The Royal Society of Portrait Painters holds an annual open submission exhibition in central London each year.

John’s wife Roberta explained that he was encouraged to submit the painting after it received several thousand “likes” on Facebook.

Graced by portraits of royalty, celebrities, academics, mothers, daughters, fathers and sons, the exhibition is an established feature of the London social calendar.

Previously, John has had paintings featured at the Royal Ulster Academy.

The Royal Ulster Academy is the largest and longest established body of practising visual artists in Northern Ireland.

John said that he plans to visit the exhibition in London when it opens in May.

This year about half of the work will be by eminent Members of the society and half by emerging artists selected through open submission.

With some 200 portraits on show, this is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of recent portraits in the country.

This year’s exhibition will be on display at Mall Galleries, central London, between 4 to 19 May 2017.

The Royal Society of Portrait Painters has many prizes and awards available to exhibitors, including the £10,000 prize for portraiture and a £3,000 award.

de Laszlo Foundation Award.