A Barnet student is having a painting inspired by a speech by the exiled Empress of Iran shown in an exhibition in Monaco.

Art by Barnet and Southgate College student Mehrak Davoudi is currently on display at the Art Monaco Exhibition 2013 in Monte Carlo until tomorrow.

Ms Davoudi’s painting Hope, inspired by a speech by the exiled Empress of Iran Farah Pahlavi, incorporates symbolism from Persian culture.

It will be auctioned at the end of the exhibition to raise money for The Prince Alireza Pahlavi Fund for Ancient Iran Scholarship at Harvard University.

The Iranian-born artist, who is in her second year of a foundation degree in creative arts, has also sold work to the empress’s private collection.

Principal of Barnet and Southgate College David Byrne said: “It’s rare for one of our creative industries students to receive such critical international acclaim whilst still studying at college, but this has been the case for Mehrak Davoudi, and we wish her well for the future.”