ARTIST Darren Baker is aiming to recapture THE sporting moment of 2003.

What turned out to be a good year for the artist from Meltham - artistically and financially - could get even better.

Darren has been challenged to capture what, for many, was the golden moment of the last 12 months.

That was when England rugby union star Jonny Wilkinson kicked the last-gasp drop goal that won the World Cup.

It was a scene that might have been tailor-made for Darren's talents.

Darren, who is now based at his Saltaire studio, cut his artistic teeth on portraits of sportsmen, before moving on to exploit his splendid technique with some excellent still-life work.

The moment when the sporting world held its breath and waited for the decision on Wilkinson's piece of magical kicking was almost a still-life in itself.

Now, through the Halcyon Gallery in London, Darren has been commissioned to capture that sporting highlight for a client who collects sporting art from all over the world.

Darren says that after that the image will be available as a limited edition print, signed by the England squad.

It opens up the kind of prospects that make Darren's move to lodge the name of DB Finearts with Companies House in late December look all the more sensible.

Darren said: "I have done quite a few sporting subjects, but mainly football. This is certainly a very tough one.

"It is such a famous image. Everyone has seen it on TV, replayed time after time. So I have to get it spot on.

"I was painting on the morning of the final itself, but I kept popping down to see the score. It is great to see England on top of the world.

"I'd like to see us do the same in the football World Cup in Germany in 2006 - and I'd love to be there as an official artist!" he added.

Darren has so far produced a charcoal sketch of Wilkinson's moment of glory and it has been sent to the gallery for approval.

He expects to be working on the complete painting over the next few weeks, to finish it by February.