A FINE art painting graduate from University Centre St Helens who has been named as one of the region's top emerging artists has been showcasing her work at the University of Central Lancashire.

Artwork by Helena Denholm, who lives in Newton-le-Willows, was on display at UCLan gallery 'The Hanover Project'.

Every year art schools across the north west of England are asked to nominate one outstanding student to feature in a 'Class of 2016' article by arts magazine The Double Negative.

Helena, who graduated with first class honours, was nominated by programme leader Wayne Robinson and painting lecturer James Quin, for her piece 'Time Heals'.

Helena said: "I was delighted to be featured as one of Double Negative's Class of 2016 top emerging artists from north west universities.

"It was such an excellent opportunity to showcase the diversity of emerging talent that I didn't hesitate to be part of this exciting exhibition."

Wayne Robinson, programme leader for the BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting at University Centre St Helens, said: "Helena's primary engagement concerns the exploration of the tension between forms, pixelation and grids, privileging materiality and the picture form.

"Naturally occurring, colour-scapes are photographically pixelated, before being carefully choreographed into new painterly forms. The status of her paintings as 'made' objects is important to the reading of the work and its intended messages."

UCLan's gallery was first to host the Class of 2016 group exhibition, open until today (September 29). For further information on the exhibition's whereabouts visit hanoverproject.wordpress.com.