An artist has spoken of her delight after her painting was chosen from over 1,000 international entries to appear at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

Helen Alveranga, of Samantha Close in Walthamstow, works two days a week as a civil servant and uses the rest of her time to paint.

Her work, Pigeon Post, is in the running for the Winsor & Newton Oil Painters Award, which will be announced tomorrow, and will feature at the Royal Institutes’ annual exhibition at The Mall Galleries, near Trafalgar Square until December 21.

The 51-year-old said she enjoys painting birds, but added that "I just seem to be able to paint pigeons quite well.

"I'm delighted, it's really good news," she added.