Animal artist, Middle Eastern (3)
I believe the answer is:
rat
'animal' is the definition.
(rat is a kind of animal)
'artist middle eastern' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'middle' means to look at the middle letters.
The middle letter of 'eastern' is 't'.
'ra'+'t'='RAT'
(Other definitions for rat that I've seen before include "Rodent; traitor" , "one who deserts the sinking ship?" , "Sewer rodent" , "Rodent - deserter" , "Unpleasant character" .)