TWO talented art students have had their work chosen to be exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London.

Paintings by Michael Ellis and Jack Boyle, produced while studying A-level art at The Knights Templar School in Baldock, are two of 20 pieces chosen from more than 300 submissions as part of a competition run by The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS) and the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA).

The two bodies invited secondary schools and sixth form colleges across Britain to put forward artists to exhibit at the Mall Galleries in March.

North Herts Decorative and Fine Arts Society, which is affiliated to NADFAS, wrote to 12 schools in the area, inviting them to submit their work, including paintings, ceramics and sculptures, for consideration.

“To our dismay, just one school replied - Knights Templar - submitting four students’ works, which were of an exceptionally good standard,” said society member Valerie Pennifer.

“We were informed that this year 54 societies submitted 304 artworks for consideration.

“To our delight, two of our students, Jack Boyle and Michael Ellis, were chosen to exhibit at the Mall Galleries, alongside professional artists, with the title of RBA scholar.

“The school was equally delighted and thanked us for giving their school the opportunity to enter the competition. The head of art, Witold Leonowicz, gave the good news to the students, now at university, and their parents.”

The students and their parents will attend a private viewing at the Mall Galleries on Tuesday, officially opened by The Right Honourable Michael Portillo.

The Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition will be open to the public from Wednesday until March 10, from 10am to 5pm (closes at 1pm on the final day).