AMATEUR artists have been given a wizard opportunity to prove themselves - by painting a portrait of Lord Of The Rings star Sir Ian McKellen.

The actor, who played Gandalf in the hit films, sat for the finalists in the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of The Year at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The artists had four hours to complete their portraits, which were judged by a panel of art experts along with earlier work as they competed for a £10,000 commission for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Picture: Chris Lobina