A TALENTED artist has won a scholarship to Stonyhurst College after exhibiting work in galleries in his home town Blackburn and France.

Alfie Hoole, 13, beat worldwide competition to secure the scholarship.

Teachers said they would now help him fulfil his talents.

Alfie, who has part of his fees paid under the scholarship scheme, currently has paintings on show in Blackburn Museum, Blackburn Cathedral and BBC Radio Lancashire.

When he was a pupil at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall, his work was included in a public display in France after the school was commissioned to create some works.

Alfie’s paintings were chosen alongside other pupils for an exhibition on hoardings in Fromeel during the excavation of the mass war graves discovered last year.

His mum Joanne said her son was initially awarded a minor scholarship for Art but following an interview with the headteacher, Andrew Johnson, it was increased to a major one, which is sought after by students across the world.

Mrs Hoole said: “His art teacher is the person who has done the most for him.

She saw he had a talent.

“He always used to draw when he was younger, on Mother’s Day he would be drawing me complex sketches of electricity pylons instead of your usual Mother’s Day cards.

“He is influenced and admires the works of Banksy.

“We are proud of him. He had some potential but we never really new how much he could achieve.”

The exhibition is a collection of portfolio work over two years.

It includes a watercolour painting of Blackburn.

Art teacher Jackie Hines sais: “Alfie loves to work with all mediums and has worked hard for this scholarship.”