A GREENOCK artist is rated a real 'glass act' after being shortlisted for a prestigious international award.

Alec Galloway is only one of 74 artists selected from 200 applicants for the British Glass Biennale.

Only the best in their field are chosen to exhibit their work at the glittering awards ceremony on August 22 at the Glasshouse in Stourbridge, with over £12,000 worth of awards to be won

Alec, best known for his stained glass work, said: "I am just delighted.

"It is a real honour to be part of it.

"It is a general glass award which means even more because it includes glass blowers and glass casting, every genre of glass-making."

Alec's entry is a stained panel entitled 'One for Sorrow' and features a magpie and religious imagery including Our Lady of Sorrows.

He said: "I have submitted work for the competition over the years and I am really pleased to get in this year.

"If an award comes along then it will be the icing on the cake.

"Every glass artist applies for it and most times you don't get in because the quality of the work is so high."

Alec, who runs Crow Cottage Arts with partner Louise Wylie, is also a talented painter and previous projects have been inspired by the local shipyards.

He works closely with local schools and recently created a window for St Columba's new oratory to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Catholic state schools.

The 54-year-old has also been invited to be featured artist at Fircroft Annual Exhibition in Surrey.

Alec said: "A group of gallery owners run this exhibition every year in rural Surrey in a beautiful mansion house with space to exhibit outside in the garden.

"It's quite a major exhibition."

Alex is producing 20 new glass pieces and up to 20 paintings which will have to be completed and put in place by the end of |May.

The display will open in the middle of June and run for 18 days.