She had worked hard for years to get a reward in the art world.

But hours before she was due to present her work for a degree, Freya Stockford saw it go up in flames.

All her work was destroyed in an inferno which ripped through the Glasgow School of Art in May 2014.

But she has battled back thanks to sponsorship and now the 23-year-old art student from Holmfirth has won a place at a major new art show in the region.

Freya is one of 12 graduates and talented newcomers to receive free exhibition space and mentoring from professional artists as part of the Art Market, which takes place at York Racecourse from October 2 to 4.

The Art Market is open to the public and will showcase the work of more than 100 artists from Yorkshire and beyond, with paintings, sculptures, ceramics and jewellery available to buy from £5 to £20,000. There will also be live music, workshops, demonstrations, a living plinth, the chance to contribute to The Peoples Paintings, and test your wits in a life-size sculpture of the children’s game Operation.

Freya said: “After completing my Foundation Diploma at Central St Martins, I moved to the Glasgow School of Art to complete my BA Hons in Painting and Printmaking. “But on May 23 last year, just four hours before the deadline for presenting work for my degree show assessment, the Glasgow School of Art set on fire. Unfortunately for me, my work was one of the unlucky ones and I lost everything I had made.

Fire at the Glasgow School of Art building. Picture Paul Chappells 23/05/14

“In the immediate aftermath, the Scottish Government worked very hard with the Glasgow School of Art to provide the final year students affected with an incredible Bursary Scheme in which we were given studios across the world. I stayed in Glasgow to complete my Bursary at The Whiskey Bond, selling work in both Glasgow and London.

“Since completing the Bursary I have moved back home. I am working at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and have just moved into a new studio at the Sculpture Lounge Studios in Holmfirth.

“I have now been lucky enough to have been awarded a free space at The Art Market York with the RAW Graduate Mentoring Programme where I’m excited to say that I will be selling my work at the start of October for the first time in Yorkshire.”