A DUNFERMLINE artist is enjoying a brush with success after a painting of her daughter was shortlisted in a prestigious national art prize.

Donna McGlynn, 42, of Headwell Road, had one of her works selected as the cream of the crop in the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, one of the UK's most respected competitions for representational painting.

"It's totally made my year!" she said. "I've been painting full-time since I moved to Dunfermline just over a year ago, so it's good to get that encouragement that you're going in the right direction.

"I don't usually enter because most are London-based and it can be difficult to get the paintings down there. I don't know what made me enter but I thought I had one good enough and I was told in January that I'd been selected for the shortlist.

"I couldn't believe it! I'm thrilled and so excited. I've looked at the others on the shortlist and they're all so good, so it's flattering to be included with such good artists."

The painting, which will be showcased in a top London gallery, is called 'All the Grand Plans' and features Donna's daughter, six-year-old Artemis.

"She's always got these grand plans about all the things she's going to make or do," explained Donna. "I painted this when she was figuring out a way to fly! She's at a magical age when she thinks anything is possible.

"I tried to tell her she'll be hanging up in a big gallery but she just said 'okay' and carried on with her own drawings! The only thing I'm scared of is that someone might buy it, because I want to keep it."

Donna studied at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen before becoming an art teacher and is now focusing on her own painting.

"I've been painting sporadically since I left art college in the 90s," she said. "Between work and having children you often don't have the time.

"I was a secondary school art teacher for six years and when I left I thought I could either look for another teaching job or try and make a go of painting. I've been painting seriously now for a few years and it's a hard slog but it's going quite well.

"I don't know what kind of person I'd be without some sort of creative goal. For me, it's painting, but it's important to have some sort of creative outlet. I think it makes people in general a lot happier.

"I'm interested in people's faces and the strangers you meet on the street and make up stories about them in your head. A lot of my painting is based on people I meet in Dunfermline and imagine things that are going on, all the little dramas."

As she gets ready for a trip to London next month for the final, Donna is excited about the possibilities the future holds for herself and other local artists.

"Dunfermline has a burgeoning art scene just now, especially with things like the Fire Station Creative," she said. "It's a small town but it's great that it's got an artistic side and it makes you feel like you could be part of something as it grows."

The overall winner of the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize will be announced on March 7, and Donna's painting will be showcased at the Mall Galleries in London until March 13.