Artist's portraits bought by Guernsey Museums

Olympia McEwan said she "couldn't have dreamt of a better outcome"

Guernsey Museums and Galleries has purchased a series of seven portraits by a local artist.

Each of the paintings, by Olympia McEwan, depicts an inspirational woman with ties to Guernsey and appeared in the 7Women exhibition earlier this year.

The subjects include Specsavers co-founder Dame Mary Perkins, scientist Prof Josephine Arendt and Jayne Ozanne, a gay rights and equality campaigner in the Church of England.

Matt Harvey, senior curator at Guernsey Museums and Galleries, said he was "thrilled", adding "representation of such inspiring women in the island's public collection is long overdue".

Mr Harvey said: "It is refreshing and entirely appropriate that we can include artworks like these in the Museum collection that are not only of such great quality but that also come with such an important message woven into them."

The other portraits feature Premature Baby Foundation founder Jo Priaulx, singer-songwriter Nessi Gomes, crown officer Megan Pullum KC and Baroness Pitkeathley, the first female member of the House of Lords from the Channel Islands.

Mrs McEwan said: "I couldn't have dreamt of a better outcome, with the paintings continuing to be a focal point to celebrate contemporary women and their achievements."