A cartographer and publisher previously living in the Black Country but now based on the Welsh border has been recognised with a prestigious international award for her latest map.

Scotland-born Mary Spence, formerly of Kingswinford but now living near Hay-on-Wye, was presented with a framed certificate by the new President of the International Cartographic Association Georg Gartner - Professor of Cartography at Vienna University of Technology, Austria - for her creation of ‘The World - Great Discoveries’.

This was one of several maps Mary sent to represent UK in the International Map Exhibition at this year’s Conference in Cape Town and it was declared 2nd best map overall in the wall maps (map panels) category from a world-wide selection of 170 maps from 34 countries.

Mary Spence's winning map
Mary Spence's winning map (Image supplied)

Speaking immediately after her citation Mary said: “The President declared I could now call myself a ‘world class cartographer’ which made everyone there laugh since despite having achieved various awards over the years he hadn’t heard of me! I am nonetheless extremely proud of this recognition and am grateful to those who considered my contribution to be of value.”