WHEN Jason Thompson joined National Museums Liverpool as a gallery attendant he thought how funny it would be if he got to guard one of his own art works.

But he discovered to his dismay the John Moores Painting Prize, which he hoped to enter, was not open to staff.

Not any more. From this year, NML employees are permitted to submit work in the competition, which results in an exhibition of short-listed pieces in September.

And Thompson, now part of the object dusting team, is one of the 45 people whose paintings have been selected for the show.

“It was very exciting and a bit unreal really. Everyone into painting knows it’s the biggest painting prize,” he says.

“When you enter something as big as this it’s a bit of a lottery, you know some people will be picked but the chances of you being among them are so slim.”

There has been no jealousy from colleagues, he adds, even though he is the only NML staff member to get this far.

“All my colleagues and friends from work who have known about it have been really great,” says Thompson, who has worked at NML for the past 12 years.

“Hardly any have actually seen any of my paintings but everyone still wished me well and kept their fingers crossed for me.

“There are quite a lot of creative, arty types working in non-arty jobs in the museums and galleries and all the painters appreciate what a big deal it is to be chosen for this.”