Picture-perfect! These incredible portraits are detailed paintings which take up to three months to complete and are often mistaken for photographs At first glance, these fascinating images look like an incredibly detailed collection of photographs. However, they are in fact stunning paintings by talented artist Craig Wylie. Mr Wylie can spend up to three months grafting away on each of his masterpieces. His portraits capture the tiniest details from his subject's face, from the dimples in their cheeks to any wrinkles around the eyes. Intricate: The artist has previously sold one painting for as much as £30,000 Incredible: These intricately detailed images could easily be mistaken for photographs - but they are in fact stunning paintings Talented: Painter Craig Wylie, from London, spends up to three months grafting away on each of his masterpieces Using just pencils, oil paints and charcoal, he creates his works of art on large canvasses - the largest he has done measured 6.5ft by 9.8ft. Mr Wylie used his talents to paint a portrait of double gold Olympic medallist Dame Kelly Holmes. The opportunity came about after the painter won the BP Portrait Prize - an annual portraiture competition held by the National Portrait Gallery - in 2008. Mr Wylie, 39, who lives in London, said: 'Kelly was pleased with my portrait of her. Initially though, she was a little daunted by the size and level of detail of it, as anyone would be looking at an image that size of themselves. 'I admit I'm not a great flatterer when it comes to portraits, but Dame Kelly did thank me for doing a good job.' Skilled: The painter has been making large head-based portraits for the last six years and many of his subjects are friends Technical: This image shows how Mr Wylie works from the images on his laptop Detailed: The painter uses just pencils, oil paints and charcoal to create his pieces Mr Wylie tries to sell most of his works once he has completed them, he has previously sold one painting for as much as £30,000. The skilled painter has been making large head-based portraits for the last six years and many of his subjects are friends. He works from images on his laptop screen and he says the ability to zoom in to extreme close-ups of the images is crucial. Working from a computer screen means he can access detail that would normally be available to the naked eye. Dedicated: The artist works from images on his laptop screen and he says the ability to zoom in to extreme close-ups of the images is crucial Life-like: Mr Wylie has painted a portrait of double gold Olympic medallist Dame Kelly Holmes. They are pictured together in front of the painting Mr Wylie was born in Zimbabwe and studied fine art in South Africa before he moved permanently to the UK in 1998. The artist added: 'I painted and drew and was exposed to all kinds of art from a young age. My mother was an artist and she always had art materials knocking about while my brother and I were growing up - we made lots of pretty messes. 'I only decided to make art my profession after starting a journalism degree and deciding it wasn't something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Obsession: The painter said he has always been exposed to art, even as a young boy Once I had made the change to a fine arts degree, I gave it everything as I knew how difficult it would be to make it as a painter. And thankfully I have received prizes steadily throughout my career, the last and most notable was the 2008 BP Portrait Award of which I was very proud. Mr Wylie is now looking forward to his next solo exhibition which will be held at the Plus One Gallery in Chelsea, London from early April.