AN artist from Accrington is taking the first steps on the road to fame after triumphing in the early stages of a TV talent show.

Dale Grimshaw, 34, went through the first round of ITV1's new show Brush With Fame last week and will be taking part in the next round tomorrow.

The former pupil at Rhyddings High School, Oswaldtwistle, splits his time between homes in Accrington, where he grew up, and Wood Green in north London, where he bases his art career.

On the TV programme, hosted by Carol Smillie, contestants are challenged to paint portraits of celebrities in a bid to find the country's best amateur portrait painter.

Mr Grimshaw painted former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond in the first show.

He said: "I'm not really a portrait painter but somebody put my name forward for the competition and I thought 'why not?'"

He said he has enjoyed taking part in Brush With Fame so far, and although the next show has already been filmed, he is not giving away whether he made it through to the next round. Contestants are battling to take home the show's top £10,000 prize.

Mr Grimshaw, a semi-professional artist who specialises in oil on canvas painting, is signed to the Artbank Gallery in Farringdon in central London and also has work in the nearby Ranelagh Gallery Bar.

He has been painting since he was 12 and moved to London to study art at Middlesex University.

Mr Grimshaw, whose sisters Mandy and Linda live in Accrington, added: "Hopefully this could lead to more exhibits and maybe I could get signed to a bigger gallery."

Mr Grimshaw's next appearance on Brush With Fame is on at 2.15pm.