14263/4ACCOMPLISHED wildlife artist Joanna May has had one of her paintings sold for charity at a Christie's auction for £3,200.

The painting of a zebra by Miss May, whose Studio Gallery is in Hughenden Yard in Marlborough, was sold in aid of Cancer Research.

She donated the painting of a zebra, a comparatively new subject for the artist who is better known for her pictures of mad March hares boxing and of owls.

She said: "I wanted to come up with a dynamic image for them."

There was keen bidding for her work, which was eventually knocked down to a Home Counties buyer for £3,200.

A bargain really, considering her paintings have been selling in her Marlborough gallery for £5,000.

Joanna May, 39, has been a wildlife artist for 14 years and has been in Marlborough for three years.

She said the charity auction in London provided her with an opportunity to get her work more widely known.

She graduated in art and design at Falmouth in Cornwall in 1991 and was soon in demand as a wildlife illustrator for magazines and books.