PURBECK artist Moira Purver is thrilled after one of her life-sized works was chosen to be exhibited at this year’s Royal West of England Academy in Bristol.

Moira’s sculpture ‘Self-Contained Man’ has been accepted after the Langton Matravers’ artist tried unsuccessfully for four years to exhibit at the RWA gallery.

“When I first visited the RWA in 2009 I instantly loved the gallery,” explained Moira. “It reminded me of the galleries in Edinburgh I visited in my childhood and I became determined to have a sculpture exhibited there sometime in the future.

“As this is the fourth time I have tried for the RWA exhibition, the waiting has made having one of my sculptures accepted this year extra special.”

At the beginning of this year she had three sculptures accepted for the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) exhibition at the Mall Galleries.

Moira said: “In May, having exhibited with the Society of Women Artists since 2009, I was elected as a full member of the society, which led to additional exhibitions this year in London and Winchester.

“Then in October my sculpture was accepted for the RWA exhibition, a definite cherry on the cake.

“2014 has been a year where my perseverance really seems to have borne fruit.”

Three of Moira’s sculptures are also currently part of a Society of Women Artists members exhibition at Minister Gallery in Winchester. Self-Contained Man can be viewed at the RWA 162nd Annual Exhibition, in Bristol, until December 7.