WORK by a Malvern artist has been selected from over 700 entries to appear alongside paintings by some of Britain’s leading pastel artists.

The Pastel Society’s annual exhibition will be on display at Mall Galleries in central London between 23 February and 5 March 2016.

Featuring works created in pastels, pencils, chalk and charcoal, the Pastel Society "exhibits abstract and experimental works alongside traditional representation".

Among them will be works by Grace Bentley-Leek, of Malvern, who said: "This is an opportunity for unknown amateur or professional artists to get their work seen and to get involved in the London art scene.

"This is my first London exhibition, I have taken part in h.art before and had work in local galleries in Ross and Hereford. I've recently moved to Malvern and am working on some new paintings."

Grace added: "I finished my degree in art at Farnham university in 2014 and I am planning to start an MA in September, and I've been entering various open exhibitions like this in the hope of getting some more exposure as a professional artist. The mall galleries has a great central location too. "

The artists, including elected members of the Society and those chosen from open submission, but all share a passion for working in dry media.

Cheryl Culver, President of the Pastel Society, said: “Pastels are the most exciting of all the mediums. What better than to grab a small piece of chalk and make an immediate blast of colour. No mixing, no fiddling around with Flow Improvers or Slow Drying mediums, no brushes to keep clean. Just pure colour at your fingertips.”

Furher information on the Now@the pastel society exhibition can be found at - http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/now-pastel-society-exhibition-2016#block-views-exhibition-content-block-2