A young artist’s painting of Nottingham’s best-known icons will be put on show at Nottingham City Council.

Internationally-renowned designer Paul Smith and literary greats DH Lawrence, Lord Byron and Alan Sillitoe all feature in 18-year-old Soniya Ahmed’s striking portrait, as well as Albert Ball, the First World War fighter pilot.

Soniya is studying a BTec extended diploma in art & design at Central College Nottingham.

Her painting was commended in the visual arts category of the Young Creative Awards earlier this year, and that is when her work was spotted by the council.

Soniya said: “I entered the awards as part of a college project and wanted to use some famous subjects, but also bring back to life those that maybe not everyone knows about.

“My previous college bought a piece of my artwork, but this is the first time that I’ve sold a piece of my artwork outside of college, so I’m really excited.

“It feels like I’m getting closer to my dream of becoming a famous artist.”

Pic: From left: Nigel Cooke, director of One Nottingham which organises the Young Creative Awards, with Soniya Ahmed and Mandi Chandler, curriculum manager for art & Design at Central College Nottingham