A Saltaire artist who has painted several famous portraits - including Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles - is to be honoured at a ceremony.

Darren Baker has won a place in the Yorkshire round of a prestigious awards scheme organised by The Prince's Trust charity.

The 26-year-old will be one of a group of young entrepreneurs from across the region who were all given grants from the charity to set up a business, battling it out for a place in the national final to win £5,000.

The regional winner will be announced at Leeds United's Elland Road football ground on Wednesday, January 29.

"It's very exciting and I'm crossing all my fingers," said Darren, who helps run Massarella Fine Art gallery in Victoria Road, Saltaire.

"I love painting and it's wonderful to make money doing something you enjoy."

Darren will be setting up a display of his work for the competition and talking to judges about it.

An art and design graduate of Bradford College, his extensive portfolio is mainly made up of portraits, including one of Tony Blair, pictured, which impressed he and his wife Cherie so much they hung it in their flat above 10 Downing Street.

After graduating, Darren said he had struggled to make ends meet and it was the charity which helped him get on his feet with a £1,500 start-up loan.

As a way of saying thankyou, Darren painted a portrait of the Prince of Wales, which was given the Royal seal of approval when he personally presented it in London.

He has also brushed shoulders with sporting stars as the official artist for The Professional Football Association.

Darren is now working towards a one-man exhibition at the Halcyon gallery in London's Mayfair.