AN ARTIST has launched a new project which will see her paint portraits of local people who volunteer for the lifeboat.

Maria Barbashina, born in Russia but now residing in Lyme Regis, says 26 members of the Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew have volunteered to be the subject of a portrait.

Maria, 38, began training as an artist in Russia when she was 12-years-old before moving on to art colleges in Karelia and St Petersburg. She specialises in portraits and still life.

Maria said: “I enjoy a challenge and like to choose subjects who I feel play an important role in local life.

“I hope my portraits will help to promote the volunteer duties of the RNLI in Lyme Regis.

“I also find this sort of project a very nice way to meet new and interesting people."

Maria's first task was to paint volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks, and he was followed by a number of sea-going lifeboat crew members, including senior helms Tim Edwards and Brian Street, each sitting taking around 90 minutes whilst Maria captures their image.

The RNLI crew is very happy with Maria undertaking the project and has hinted that one day they may even display a number of the portraits at the station.