TWO Broadway picture framers should be told if they have won a national pictures framing competition next month after reaching the final of a national framing competition.

Richard Christie, who runs the Art'Giano shop in High Street, has been named as one of six finalists in the Fine Art Trade Guild competition for the second year running.

The theme for this year's competition is contemporary cityscape.

Mr Christie asked artist Heena Carson, known for this style, to create something original.

Ms Carson used glitter and threads on material to create a skyline which looks like a photograph from a distance but is much more intricate when viewed up close.

As he will be marked on how the frame enhances the picture, Mr Christie used black and silver on the mounting and frame to keep it clean, simple and contemporary.

Mr Christie, who has been framing for about nine years, set up his Broadway business just over a year ago and entered last year's competition, which had a botanical theme, with a picture of the English rose.

"I got as far as the finals last year and now I've done that again I'm feeling very confident," he said.

One of his competitors in the finals will be fellow Broadway framer Edward Dudfield, aged 30, who is based at the Orion Gallery on The Green.

Mr Dudfield, who plans to launch his own art and framing business, Edge Design, later this year, submitted a picture entitled Night/Day for the competition.

Now they will both have to wait until the finals at the Royal Court Hotel in Coventry on May 17 to hear if either have been crowned this year's winner.