A RACEHORSE put down after suffering a broken leg in the 2012 Grand National has been immortalised by a Clitheroe artist.

John Rotherham was selected after the owners of According to Pete visited his stand at the Great Yorkshire Show in July.

John produced a series of preliminary sketches before the master painting was produced in soft pastel.

According to Pete suffered the injury when he was brought by another horse after jumping the infamous Becher's Brook fence at the Aintree course.

John, left his job as a manager with the NHS in Nelson two years ago, to become an artist full time.

He set up The Studio at Bashall Barn in the Ribble Valley with his partner Cassandra Batterby in February and said that he hopes that this painting will prove to be a springboard to other projects.

John, 46, of Waddington Road, said: “I felt a huge responsibility to get this right.

“After meeting the family, it was clear According to Pete was special, he really was part of the family.

“I feel very privileged that the Nelson family chose me after searching on and off for two years.

“I’m really pleased with the outcome and it certainly was a challenge to complete as I was working off old family photos and stories about him.

“When I handed over the painting to According to Pete’s owner Pete Nelson, he said that it was perfect and was quite emotional and that was a special moment for me.”

Mr Nelson said: “We took our time to find the right person for the job, and it has been well worth the wait.

“The painting is everything we wanted and more.”