A WEST Wight artist has had a piece of her work accepted for the prestigious Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

Becca Cameron, from Freshwater Bay, who specialises in making sea creatures out of recycled vintage and costume jewellery, submitted her creation of a colourful crab named Tamatoa and was given the good news this week.

The exhibition, at Burlington House, London, is the world's largest open submission art show and brings together all mediums by leading artists, Royal Academicians and household names, as well as new and emerging talent.

Around 1,200 works will be on display, most of them for the first time.

Becca has been showcasing her work since 2011 on the Open Studios circuit and said: "I started out by mosaicing washed up sea buoys and transforming them into sea spheres.

"Driftwood was turned into unique fish and birds, and off cuts from glass studios became light-catching abstracts.

"Tamatoa was inspired by fond memories of long summer days spent crabbing with my children and grandchildren in Yarmouth.

"The children would lay flat on their tummies for hours, dangling their crab lines loaded with limpets into the sea.

"I remember the shrieks of laughter and excitement when they finally caught one, and then their fear of being pinched by large ferocious claws."

She has been invited to a reception and service at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, as well as the buyers' day and private viewings.

This year, acclaimed British painter Jock McFadyen will co-ordinate the 251st exhibition with highlights including an animal-themed menagerie in the central hall where Becca hopes Tamatoa will be displayed.

She said: "I initially submitted an image of my work online and then waited to be notified.

"I was finally told I was through to the final round and was asked to bring my work down to Burlington House on a specific date to be scrutinised by the esteemed panel of Royal Academicians.

"As I waited in the queue in the alley, I was interviewed by the BBC and had a grand reveal of my work in front of the cameras. It was all so exciting.

"As I took the bubble wrap off in this dark alley, Tamatoa caught the light and sparkled. Everyone one went 'wow' leaving me grinning like a Cheshire cat. Now, I'm so excited by what's happening and can't wait to see it hanging in the exhibition."

Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.