Like many contemporary artists battling to establish a reputation, Mandy Wilkinson had dreamed of her name appearing one day alongside the likes of Van Gogh and Joan Miro on the sales list of an international gallery with thousands of clients around the world.

Unfortunately, when this happened to the 38-year-old abstract painter from Wales, who by her own admission remains some way from being a household name, the result has been a nightmare every bit as vivid and dizzying as one of her canvases.

Thanks to the efforts of Chinese “art factories” that are turning out thousands of fake paintings bearing her name, alongside reproductions of works by greats from Turner to Da Vinci, Wilkinson has found herself with the unwanted title of Britain’s most forged contemporary artist.