FOR a remarkable third time Teignmouth artist Anna Grayson has had her pictures in the Royal Academy of Arts’ Summer Exhibition in Picadilly.

The exhibition, which opened this week to the public at the Royal Academy is open until January 2.

Anna said: ‘It is the third time I’ve been hung at the RA, and my fourth picture (I had two in Grayson Perry’s Yellow Room in 2014).

‘This photograph is a bit different as it is in the style of a Dutch Still Life rather than re-making a specific picture.

‘I have drawn inspiration from having originally trained as a geologist and used ammonites instead of cheeses and geodes instead of silver vessels.

‘One of the main messages of a traditional still life is the memento mori – that reminder that death awaits us all.

‘You can’t get more dead than a fossil, and the whole piece serves as a reminder of the fate that could await the planet if we don’t act now to stop global warming.

‘I have already accumulated some red dots as the framed picture sold at one of the private view parties, and the unframed prints are proving rather popular too.

‘The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition is co-ordinated by the amazing Yinka Shonibare this year he is famous for his colourful work with African wax fabric.

‘His theme for the show is “reclaiming the magic of creating art”, and there is emphasis on “outsider” artists, that is those for whom art has not been their main career.

‘I spent most of my life as a science writer and broadcaster, so I fit in well there!’ Anna adds.

The show is also available to view online at roy.ac/Explore.

‘There is a lot to learn from this show about what other artists are doing and the print making is particularly interesting,’ says Anna.

Anna is a geologist by training and was a writer and broadcaster by profession.

She was a regular voice on Radios 4 and 5 and was the first woman to be allowed to present a Natural World film for BBC2.

She and her husband moved to Devon 15 years ago. In 2012 Anna decided to retire and go to art college in Exeter, and she has never looked back.

She has always loved art history and thought having her favourite famous masterpieces on the wall would be rather fun.

But she could not afford to buy anything at auction and didn’t have the bottle to be a real art thief, so had re-make her own art with photography.

She has exhibited at the Royal Academy in London and the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol and is a regular contributor to the South West Academy Annual Exhibitions.