It can be a slow journey for a portrait artist to get his or her name out there, but after completing more than 100 drawings of famous people, Jay Pritchard says he is becoming very well known.

He said he always used to draw, but took it up seriously after encouragement from his late grandfather who spurred him on to keep practicing and to keep at it.

Mr Pritchard’s famous faces may bring the attention but his work covers a wide range.

He said: “My business is unique. People have laughed and cried at the artwork I have done for their loved ones and family. I was also commissioned to draw a dramatic picture of soldiers going over the ridge at the Battle of Mons in 1914.”

Some of his celebrity portraits have included the Kray twins, Jamie Foreman, Stephen Fry and Jeremy Kyle, who was pictured standing alongside the artwork.

Mr Pritchard has moved on to drawing animals and is currently creating a portrait of an elephant in the bush.

Infamous prisoner Charles Bronson has recently made contact with an interest in having his portrait done.

Mr Pritchard, who is based in Gravesend, has a Facebook page showing a selection his work at www.facebook.jaypritchardportraitsandart.co.uk.

Mr Pritchard has entered The Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards, which are supported by the Messenger, and each entrant gets a free profile in our papers and on our website.

This year’s award sponsors are Dartford council, Gravesham council, Barnes Roffe, Kent Business School (University of Kent), the KM Group (Dartford Messenger and Gravesend Messenger), Lloyds Bank, Thomson Snell and Passmore, Edinburgh House, University of Greenwich and Mid Kent College.

Entries have now closed. The winners will be announced in a few weeks.