A BUDDING Botticelli has had his work displayed in a town’s gallery.

Nicholas McArthur, 14, is set for a promising career in art after his works were picked up by those at the Horsham Museum and Art Gallery.

The teenager, who goes to Forest School in Horsham, said: “I was very happy and excited to know that someone in a museum thought that my work was good enough to be displayed.”

He had tried to take his work to Bayswater Road in London to sell his drawings in the street alongside other artists. However, he found he was too young to get a licence to trade.

Nicholas prefers to draw with pencil because it offers him “greater control”.

He added: “Portraits are my favourite subjects, simply because there is a lot of character and expression on the face, especially in the faces of older people.”

He has drawn portraits of family members, including his cousin and aunt, but also draws strangers and pictures of animals.

The drawings will be on display in the museum’s Hurst Room until June 11.

A museum spokesman said: “As his talents undoubtedly develop, we are looking forward to offering him space in the main art gallery.”

Nicholas added: “That would be fantastic. I would love as many people to see the artwork as possible.

“Until now, only my family, friends and school teachers have seen it.”

He is currently enjoying working towards his art GCSE while at the same time working on his own projects at home.

Mum, Marie, said: “We feel it is a fantastic opportunity for Nicholas to share his work with other people.

“We have always thought that his work was good, but it is nice to have professional people evaluate it and confirm that he has talent.”

Dad, John, added: “We are very proud to see Nicholas’ work on display in the museum.

“We have to get him to draw more now because our living room walls are looking very bare.”