AN up-and-coming Stourbridge artist is in with a chance of being offered a publishing contract after being shortlisted for IN:SIGHT 2015.

Wordsley-born Emma Safe is one of 20 hopefuls – whittled down from more than 400 entries – who are showcasing their work at Castle Fine Art gallery, in Birmingham’s ICC, until August 31.

If the 43-year-old is successful in the competition, she will join the likes of Ronnie Wood, Bob Dylan and Raphael Mazzucco to be represented in the Washington Green Fine Art’s portfolio.

Emma – who now lives in Stourbridge – graduated from Liverpool School of Art with a first class honours degree in the late 90s. Her large scale, charcoal drawings centre on observation of nature and contemporary life.

She said: “Drawing is my way of responding to the world and getting to know particular locations. Through the act of drawing I make physical, psychological and spiritual connections with my environment and the people within it.

“Charcoal drawing is for me is the most immediate and direct form of expression. It allows the artist no hiding place - no tricks, just charcoal!”

Also among the 20 shortlisted artists is former Dudley College teacher Robert Bowers.

The 48-year-old studied fine art at Wolverhampton University before becoming an artist full time, working in a variety of materials.

Robert said: “My work is based on human conditions, all my pieces have hidden meanings, it may be a sentence, a moment in time or an emotional feeling."