A young Ross-on-Wye artist with autism has won a national award for his painting.

Michael Baillon is a third year student at National Star in Cheltenham, a specialist college for young people with complex disabilities and learning difficulties.

The 21-year-old has always loved drawing and painting. He spends hours creating intricate paintings and says his autism allows him to see the world in a way different from others.

He won silver in the Youth 2D Art category of the Unique Art Awards, a national competition run by the Mouth and Foot Painting Trust Fund to encourage young people with disabilities to develop their creativity.

“Michael is an incredibly talented artist who has very independent ideas and thoughts,” said National Star arts tutor Louise Adams, who won special needs arts teacher of the year at the same awards.

“This award is richly deserved and it was a great accomplishment for Michael. And although his anxieties prevented him from attending the awards ceremony itself, he has dealt with the attention since, very positively.”

Michael hopes to go on to study art at mainstream college and possibly university.