Gifted Iranian painter, Maryam Khazai, was one of the 12 winners of design painting from Cleveland International Biennale Drawing Exhibition.

Talking in interview with Iran News, Maryam Khazai said: "I took one of my portraits called 'Look' to the exhibition and was picked by the jury as one of the 12 selected painters and awarded prize of 1000 Sterling." She said according to statement, issued by Cleveland Painting Exhibition, based in UK, the prize will be distributed among the winners on March 8, when the exhibition is opened. British Embassy in Tehran has so far refused to grant her visa, although she holds an official invitation from exhibition.

"After screening 1800 paintings forwarded to exhibition, Cleveland Jury selected 80 as excellent paintings. Pursuant to another screening, 12 outstanding paintings were chosen for awards, include mine", Maryam Khazai explained.

Born in 1963, Mrs. Khazaei started painting in 1984 band received BA in painting from Al-Zahra University. Elaborating on her artistic performance, the young painter said: "During the time I was active in artistic work, I participated in group exhibitions, such as the second and third biennale exhibitions, held in Tehran. I also attended Children's Book Illustration Exhibition on the effect of flower and nature on the works of painters, and exhibition of the manifestation of feelings, held on the occasion of Women's Week."

She said this year she held individual exhibition in Sabz Gallery and last week had joint exhibition with Manouchehr Nosrat in Barg Gallery, which ended yesterday.

Meanwhile, upon the invitation of UNESCO, Maryam Khazai will travel to Paris, on March 19, to exhibit 38 of her paintings in Central Hall of UNESCO for one week.