MELTHAM artist Darren Baker had to use his imagination to create a scene from a galaxy far, far away for his latest commission.

Darren was challenged with creating a painting depicting the main characters from the Star Wars films, against an original background.

The 18ins by 14ins painting was commissioned for 32-year-old Darren by Cranston Fine Arts in Helensburgh, Scotland.

The gallery, which has exhibited Darren’s work before, was commissioned to secure a painting by Lucasfilm, the company of Star Wars creator George Lucas.

The painting is to be used as part of a Star Wars art exhibition and book, 10 years on from the release of the first film in the second Star Wars trilogy – Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

The book is already out in America and the exhibition is set to be held in Los Angeles in July.

The painting took Darren six weeks to complete, including sketches.

He said: “It was a challenge to come up with an original landscape but it was an interesting commission.”

Darren has also just completed another big commission for the Professional Footballers’ Association.

It is a mural of a football crowd at a fictional England game at the new Wembley Stadium.

Faces in the crowd include members of the PFA, winners of the Association’s awards and football characters from Manchester, where the PFA was founded.

The 3ft by 2ft mural will be unveiled on June 22 at the new Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The PFA raised £1m towards the hospital on Oxford Road and is also having a plaque displayed along with the mural.

Darren started work on the mural in March.

He said: “This and the Star Wars painting have been two big commissions. It’s terrific, a good year so far.”

Darren has worked for the PFA before and is known for his detailed artistic studies of sporting legends like Sir Matt Busby, George Best and Kelly Holmes.

The Meltham artist has also done a greyhound portrait to help raise funds for Tia Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue, which is based at Hebden Bridge.

The charity works to rescue and rehome stray, abandoned and ex-racing hounds and lurchers.

It relies solely on donations to provide support for the dogs and give them a new life.

Mr Baker said he was inspired to help out Tia as a friend of his works for the charity.

He also had the prestigious honour of being commissioned to create a full-length oil portrait of the Queen, due to be presented for her 85th birthday in two years’ time.

The monarch sat for Darren in May and will pose for the painting again in October.

Darren, who has been a professional artist for 10 years, came to the Queen’s attention after he displayed work at Windsor Horse Show two years ago.

A member of the royal household took his business card.

He also met Prince Charles at the Yorkshire Show in Harrogate a few years ago and painted a picture for the Prince of Wales to hang at St James’ Palace.

The commission was appropriate, as Darren’s career was kick-started with a £1,500 loan from the Prince’s Trust.

The former Bradford Art College student has also painted horses for the royal family of Bahrain as well as completing commissions from a variety of organisations.

He has staged solo exhibitions in galleries across the UK and abroad, including New York.