THE delicate steel engravings of a Basingstoke artisan won an award after catching the eyes of eminent artists at a top exhibition in London.

The work of Morris Dick impressed visitors and judges alike at the Royal Society of Miniature Painters Sculptors and Gravers annual exhibition, at Central Hall, Westminster, so much that he received a Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention.

The Gold Bowl itself is the world's most important award for miniatures and is judged by the society's president Suzanne Lucas and two advising judges, the same people who awarded Mr Dick the honourable mention. Had he been a fellow of the society, he could have been in the running to win the major award.

Following the recognition of his skills, he is now hoping to become a fellow of the society.

Mr Dick, of Ellington Drive, Brighton Hill, said he was delighted that his work, which included Lebanon Coast and A Not-So-Bonnie Prince Charlie, had made it into the exhibition because of the tough competition.

He said: "There may have been 5,000 offers of work to be shown but only 900 were accepted. To even be accepted is an achievement, let alone get an award.

"I am never short of words, but I was kind of silent when the president of the society told me of the honours - I was gobsmacked!"

Mr Dick, who has produced line engravings in his spare time for most of his life, said many visitors to the exhibition had commented on how impressed they were with his work.

"They have encouraged me to consider a future retirement career in print making and engraving," he added.

"It's a highly-skilled craft and takes 20 years to be good at it. each line engraving takes a long time to produce - 12 to 14 weeks, working eight hours a day, to engrave each one."

Mr Dick, who hails from Scotland, has work kept at Burns Cottage, in Ayrshire, at The Scottish National Gallery and also at Chartwell, the former home of Sir Winston Churchill.