A Macclesfield pet artist has had an amazing start to year having her work admired by Prince Edward.

Rainow-resident Nina Kurzweil (50) met Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (57) last week at the Windsor Great Park in Berkshire.

She didn't even know whether she would meet a Royal meeting up until she arrived at the 2022 Cocker Championships. But was delighted to meet the Queen's third son.

"In 2021 I was honoured to be commissioned by the Kennel Club to draw a gift for Her Majesty The Queen, as she was set to host the 2022 Cocker Championships at Windsor Estate," said Nina.

"Drawing this piece was an absolute honour, especially given it meant I got to meet HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex who graciously accepted the drawing on behalf of his mother HM The Queen.

"I was so nervous on the day, my son and best friend accompanied me on the drive down to Windsor and we had a lovely day chatting to the Kennel Club and the competitors. We weren't sure who would be there for the presentation.

"When HRH Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex arrived to present the trophies and accept his mother's gift we were all so excited.

"Prince Edward is really lovely and chatted away with everyone, making everyone feel at ease.

"When my portrait was unveiled I cried a little bit and so did some of the people around me, there was and gasp when it was handed to HRH Prince Edward.

"This piece was made even more special when one of the dogs I had drawn FTCh Wolferton Drama won the championship placing first at the Kennel Club 91st Cocker Championships in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year.

"HRH Prince Edward was thrilled with the portrait and was struck by the details I had captured, he thought HM the Queen would love her portrait as she loves all her animals, I can't really remember much of what we talked about I was just too excited."

Seeing Nigel Kirby's excellent photograph of the Prince and the Macclesfield artist (at the top of this article) shows the sheer euphoria from both parties, in how delighted they were to be there.

Prince Edward, who is also known as the Earl of Forfar, is 14th in line of succession to the British throne.

Nina, who has over 5,000 followers on social media, has only been doing art professionally for two years. But has found success of the highest pedigree.

"Since 2019 I have been a full-time pet portrait artist working with coloured pencils but, my passion for drawing animals dates back much further to when I was child," Nina recalled.

"As a little girl, my grandad and I would go on walks where he would teach me about the different birds, wildlife and plants we would come across.

"These walks would usually leave my grandad wanting to have a nap, whereas I was left inspired. As my grandad enjoyed his well earned siesta, I would sit at the dining room table, with a big roll of paper and a tin of coloured pencils in hand, ready to draw all of the beautiful things I had seen.

"As I grew older my love for drawing stayed with me, and I would spend my time with my tin of coloured pencils capturing still life in drawings.

"My passion for art even led me to go to art school, studying a Fine Art Degree specialising in printmaking. Whilst I really enjoyed etching, as it allowed me to draw albeit with a different medium, etching wax onto a metal plate.

"I never truly found what I wanted at art school. Shortly after starting my degree, the day came when I put my tin of coloured pencils away, and walked away from art.

"In 2005, I got Dylan, my first of many Spaniels, and with my love for him came my love for the country. The love for both has led me to where I am today.

"My partner Lee and I, moved from Manchester to a little cottage in Rainow. Whilst for Lee, this was just a nice change of scenery, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, for me this was life changing, I changed jobs, lifestyle and l'm living my dream.

"More than 20 years after turning my back on art, I dusted off my tin of coloured pencils, remembering the joy I had felt trying to capture the beauty of the moments I had shared with my grandad as a child.

"The first drawing I did was a portrait of my mother's dog for her Christmas present which I then shared online. From that moment my future was planned, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

"As a pet portrait artist, the main part of my business is commissions, I love to be able to capture the love we feel for our pets, in a way that photographs often don't. I want my drawings to be realistic representations but also more than that, I want to capture the soft loving eyes and the way our pets listen to every word we say.

"In 2021 I opened my website shop, selling prints and would like to keep adding to the growing number of Limited edition wildlife and rural prints I sell.

"Over the last three years I have drawn hundreds of dogs from all over the world [including Macclesfield of course].

"As I draw from photos, I'm not restricted by location but I'll be honest it is lovely when the client is local as I often get to meet them and get a cuddle of the subject.

"As a fifty year old artist I think the message I'd like to convey is it's never too late to chase a dream."

More of Nina's work can be found at her website.