WHEN up and coming UK artist and sailing enthusiast Anna Duckworth posted her latest painting on Twitter, she never expected it to generate so much interest around the world. The picture was re-tweeted by sailing magazines and sailors through the night and by morning she was thrilled to find an inbox full of appreciative international Twitter messages. One of those in particular caught her eye – her painting had been re-tweeted by America's Cup winning skipper, Jimmy Spithill – who wanted to buy it. He later sent her a photograph of himself with the painting, saying: 'Cant' wait to get it on the wall.' And later tweeted: 'So stoked to receive this amazing painting of the 72 lighting up the bay from legendary artist Anna.' Anna has an attic studio in Bristol but spends a lot of time with her husband Chris and daughter Edi, nine, at their holiday home in Swannaton Road, Dartmouth. She said: 'I'm a complete novice when it comes to Twitter so posting my paintings feels quite an alien thing to do. 'A friend sold tweeting to me, saying that it gets you in front of people that you wouldn't normally reach. This was really confirmed for me when, that evening, I received a personal message from Jimmy asking how he could get one of my paintings! 'I love it when my art finds its rightful home and to have the guy who helmed the winning boat through one of the most amazing comebacks in sports history buy my painting feels just perfect.' Anna's blossoming art career had a similar Twitter endorsement when her first ever tweet, featuring her copy of Van Gogh's Sunflowers, was 'favorited' by the National Gallery. Her real passion is for painting high energy, extreme sports and to capture the buzz of action. She said: 'I find that I get lost in my paintings and looking at them takes me into that moment,' she said. 'I sense the thrill of the speed, spray and wind and revel in the feeling of working with a team, fine tuning the boat, surrounded by the elements. I'd love to be on board one of these beauties, careering along at breakneck speed on foils. 'Painting them is the next best thing. I hope that when owners of my art can't be on the water, they can re-live the exhilaration of sailing from their armchairs.' Anna, who is both Bristol and Dartmouth based, also has artwork on display, including a large America's Cup painting, in Siegle and Co on Smith Street, Dartmouth. Now, after she packed up her latest painting to ship it to San Francisco, home of the 34th America's Cup defenders, she hopes that Twitter will strengthen her connections with lovers of sailing and wild sports all over the world. You can follow her artwork @AnnaArtbyanna.