For the fourth year, Settle artist Sam Dalby has had a painting accepted for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters’ annual exhibition in London.

And his selected portrait of North Craven playwright Alan Bennett is featured in the illustrated catalogue of the exhibition and is named in the society’s detailed promotional information.

“It is causing quite a fuss, which, I think, is influenced by the portrait being of Alan Bennett,” said 38-year-old Sam. “But, while it makes people sit up a bit, the quality has to be there for it to stand out.

“Exhibiting in London is fantastic and gives you exposure that you just can’t buy.”

The portrait was first seen during an exhibition at The Folly, Settle, last year, with the initial sketch being sold to raise money to secure the future of the grade one listed building, Sam said: “I was aware that Alan had not agreed to sit for many portraits, but as he is president of North Craven Building Preservation Trust which owns The Folly and had recently launched a major appeal to secure the future of the building, I thought he might be interested. I was delighted when he agreed and, in early 2012, I travelled to London for the sittings.”

For the London exhibition, Sam has reworked the portrait.

“I just wasn’t happy with the painting as it stood,” he explained. “It was a last minute decision to repaint and I only had a couple of weeks before the handing-in date. Halfway through I had some doubts about the wisdom of what I was doing, but I was pleased with the end result. The reaction to the repainted work has been really positive.”

Sam was brought up in Austwick, where his father, John, was vicar, and took A-levels at Settle High School before doing a foundation year at Harrogate College of Art and Technology and a degree at Cleveland College of Art and Design. He painted his first commission in 1998 and since then has established a strong reputation as a portrait artist and tutor.

He is currently engaged in a series of prestigious commissions to draw the Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge.

However, to make ends meet, he works full-time as a painter and decorator.

“My commissions are not enough to live on and until that happens I will continue with my painting and decorator. I have been slogging away at it since 1997 and it is my bread and butter.”

He added that there was little correlation between the two parts of his life.

“There is nothing creative about painting and decorating. The only link is the interaction with people – you have to get them to trust you.”

* The Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibition will run at The Mall Galleries, London, from today (Thursday) until Friday, May 24.