A WILDLIFE artist has scooped up a top award for an art work collection that is deer to her heart.

Painter Anita Young, from Stockton Heath, was presented with the first inaugural chairman’s award by the Association of Animal Artists (AAA) during its annual dinner earlier this month.

As the first recipient of the award, Anita was commended for her work in a number of areas including her support of the wild wolf conservation, which she promotes at every opportunity through her paintings, workshops, demonstrations and talks.

She said: “It is wonderful to have the recognition of the association and makes all the hard work of this last 12 to 18 months so much more worthwhile.

"There are lots of exciting new projects already developing on the horizon for 2015.

"The award has given a boost to my motivation to move forward with renewed confidence – and reassurance that I am travelling in the right direction."

AAA, which was founded in 2009, provides opportunities for animal artists to progress by helping them to promote and exhibit their art work.

Chairman of AAA Julie Cross said: “We want to look beyond the artwork and see what our art can do – it truly is art with a purpose.

"AAA exhibitions openly support our animal welfare and wildlife conservation charity partners by giving charitable donations, but we do so much more.

"AAA members also have a valuable role in not only supporting these charities and their own chosen causes, but in giving a voice to the issues they promote, raising public awareness and helping us to celebrate and also preserve the animal kingdom that inspires our art – and that really is special.”

Anita’s latest work Glowing Embers of Ice will be on display at the Castle Park Open Exhibition in Frodsham until January 4.