But the Leeds Metropolitan University graduate never gave up her desire to become a full-time artist.

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The 31-year-old's determination has been rewarded as she is one of this year's finalists for the third Northern Art Prize worth £16,500.

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Her delicate pencil and watercolour drawings, along with the other finalists' works, will be unveiled tonight at a gala evening at Leeds City Art Gallery before going on public display.

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She said: "I'm really, really thrilled. For a start it's a great mix of artists who've been shortlisted.

"I'm also the youngest, so I feel like the baby of the bunch.

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"It is also a really good opportunity to put together a strong exhibition of my works all in one place."

Rachel left university with a 2:1 degree in Fine Art in 2000.

Oldham-born, she returned to Manchester but took on extra jobs as she tried to make her way as an artist.

She said: "I've done loads of part-time jobs, from gallery technician to van driving. I became an odd-job girl, even painting friends' walls, any way to scrape a living.

"All through that time I had a studio. I'd painted first, then moved into sculpture at university but it was only afterwards that I turned to drawing.

"One of the major starting points for the drawings is natural history and the relationship between different species, whether it's harmonious or parasitic.

"They are small, very precise drawings in large spaces. The idea is it draws you in then you see the more macabre themes which I'm also interested in."

Rachel went full-time in April 2007 and is now represented by two agents, International 3 in Manchester and Pippy Holdsworth in London.

The Northern Art Prize exhibition opens tomorrow at Leeds Art Gallery and runs until February 21.

It was set up by Leeds design and communication firm Logistik in partnership with Leeds City Council.

The winner will be announced in the New Year.