A celebrity artist from Kensal Rise whose work has flown over Buckingham Palace has been nominated for a top award.

Eugene Ankomah, who lives in Mount Pleasant, has been nominated in the Best Creative Artist category at the Black British Entertainment (BBE) awards ceremony taking place on December 16.

The award celebrates the best of Black British talent in the entertainment industry in categories including film, TV, music, fashion, lifestyle and social media.

The 37-year-old father of three, whose artwork is in the collection of celebrities such as Dizzie Rascal, Michael Horowitz and Colin Salmon was also honoured for his contribution to art within the community at the BEFFTA Awards (Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts) on October 27.

He said: “It’s an amazing opportunity just because as artists, we work in private and silence for a long time and people don’t see what we make.

It is great when we are finally able to share it with people who receive it and see the vision and in my case there’s an entertainment factor.”

He added: “To push the boundaries between art and entertainment and have that received makes me happy, makes me feel my message and expression has been understood.

“Particularly young creators who have a strong identity and may want to communicate in their own unique way, I feel I’m setting an example to them to freely and boldly express themselves.”

Mr Ankoman was the first ever recipient of the Peter Evans Award when a pupil at Willesden High School, now Capital City Academy, in Doyle Gardens, Willesden.

At the BBE Award launch ceremony on October 28 he was invited to do a live art performance. He was also asked to create a pop-up art exhibition within the space of the ceremony near Hyde Park.

He said: “I used a new body of work title Brain Wave which sees my work and art style reinvented through new digital paintings. I’m thankful to say this also went down well with the audience.”

He’s done several projects connected to royalty. He designed a commissioned flag which was flying on top of Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s 50th anniversary in 2002.