Find out why best-selling Wigan author Paul Finch faced the toughest decision of his career

But at the end of a special “paint-off” challenge for three artists, best-selling Wigan crime writer Paul Finch was left with a unique work of art that will now have pride of place in the lounge of his home.

The novelist was given the challenging task of selecting one of three paintings that sought to interpret his latest novel, Never Seen Again, in a competition organised by Westside Business Improvement District (BID) in Birmingham.

Artists Paula Gabb, Helen Roberts and Helen Owen, all members of the Birmingham Art Zone community group, had to create a single piece of artwork, having only read the book.

Paul travelled down from his home in Standish to view the paintings for the very first time and then judge the best at a special event at the Velvet Music Rooms on Broad Street.

And, after much deliberation, he chose the creation of Ms Roberts, who was presented with the winning cheque of £500.

A delighted Helen said: “I am just elated. It has been very enjoyable and an absolute pleasure taking part. And, while I’m thrilled that my painting was chosen, we are all winners.

“I was very interested in seeing my friends’ work before the judging started as they are all different.”

Helen, who used acrylic paint on canvas, added: “I will probably spend the money on more paints.”

Paul, whose 467-page book tells the story of a former crime reporter who fatally compromises a police operation, said he would have loved to take all three paintings home.

He said: “Without doubt, this was the most difficult decision in my writing career. Everything here was so praiseworthy. All three artists had done the most deep-diving in the book and I really love them all.

"Every one of them spoke to me, but the painting I chose spoke to me just a little bit more. “

Helen’s winning painting featured the central character of Jodie Martindale, and Paul added: “I saw Jodie looking at me and she was saying ‘come and find me’. It’s exactly what I wanted, and this will now go in a place in our main lounge.”

Helen, who used symbolism to tell the story, said of Jodie: “We didn’t have much to go on from the book other than her age, the fact she was blonde, and her sister was described as attractive, so I assumed she was as well.”

However, she added a feature not in the book, with Jodie touching a pendant with a blue heart in her painting.

“This represents the United Nations Blue Heart campaign which raises awareness of human trafficking, as this features in the book.”The runners-up both received cheques for £250.

Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, explained that a video telling the whole story of the ‘paint-off’ competition was now in production and would be launched at a Westside venue in the New Year.

He added: "It was wonderful to see novelist Paul Finch so enthralled by the great range of pictures that the challenge prompted from the talented local artists. We now look forward to telling the whole story in exciting detail in our video documentary that will be screened early in 2023."