A artist from Southfields is said she is ‘absolutely flabbergasted’ after having been nominated for a highly-coveted international prize.

Jill Parry Marchese has been shortlisted for the Wildlife Artist of the Year Award, presented by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF).

Now celebrating its 10th year, the event will display some of the world’s best wildlife art in central London’s prestigious Mall Galleries later this month (June 28 – July 2).

The shortlist for this year’s award is said to ‘bring the wild to life’, according to award-winning artist Gary Hodges.

Gary, who has been WWF Artist of the Year twice and BBC World Magazine Wildlife Artist of the Year in 1991, believes that choosing the winner this year will be ‘extremely hard’.

The winner will receive the top £10,000 sponsored prize.

Jill, an assistant at Wandsworth Town Library, has lived in Southfields for more than two decades.

She is a self-taught artist who has always enjoyed drawing but has been particularly passionate about horses, and has had her work shown at the Society of Equestrian Artists.

Although she only recently developed an interest in drawing wildlife, it has quickly become her ‘main passion and motivation’.

She said: “It is such an honour for one of my pieces to get into the DWSF Awards. If I have achieved nothing else, I have achieved this!”

Speaking about who helps fuel her creativity, she said: “My main encouragement comes from my partner Tony, who is a very talented artist himself.

“He always helps and motivates me, and is full of ideas and practical suggestions. I know that I could not have achieved half as much without him by my side.”

Profits from the exhibition will be split 50-50 between the artists and the DSWF in efforts to fundraise for their wildlife conservation projects across Asia and Africa.

Judges will approve their final selection on Tuesday June 27, having assessed all 163 pieces from the artists in the running, before a private view of the galleries and prize-giving later that evening.

Since 2007, the event has raised over £350,000 to help protect some of the world’s most endangered wildlife.

The competition is part of the charity’s Week of Wildlife Art at the Mall Galleries.

For more information, visit davidshepherd.org or jillparry.co.uk