AFTER ranking in the top ten in the country for her GCSE art exam, a Kings Langley student is “shocked and delighted”.

Danielle Hart, a sixth former at Kings Langley Secondary School, received a letter this summer from examining board Edexcel telling her that she had come in the top ten out of almost 37,000 candidates for her overall art grade.

The 16-year-old from Garston Drive in Garston, said: “I could not believe it, I was so shocked when I was told how I did.

“I did work really hard for it, but I never thought it was as good as that.

“My mum is very proud of me and my friends are all so happy, too.

“I have always loved art since I was really young, I find it relaxing and a good past-time.

“My ambition is to have an art-related career, such as interior design.”

Danielle is now working towards her A Level in art and aims to go to university to carry on her studies.

One of her highly-regarded pieces of work was based on war and conflict, and was the product of months of research about the artist Francis Bacon and the style he used.

Danielle said: “I really enjoyed the research, that part was my favourite.

“I really liked learning all the background information about the artist and experimenting with different techniques before doing the final piece.

“I have also been trying out different textures and materials, and looking at things like the environment for inspiration.”

Head of art at the school, Nigel Glover, said: “Danielle works extremely hard, and it paid off with her high results.

“Her research skills and the range of materials she used, such as papier-mache, 3D work and acrylic paint, meant she worked to a very high standard.”

Danielle said she has enjoyed studying the subject at school, where the class went on trips to museums in London and, through this, has discovered that her favourite artists are Monet and Francis Bacon.

She added: “I like artists who are distinctive in their work, so when you see a piece, you know who painted it.

“I like pop art, too, because it is colourful. I try to use lots of different colours in my work.

“I would encourage other people my age to try art, it is so much fun and you can be really creative, and there is always a style or technique that you will be good at.”