Well-known Norfolk artist Bruer Tidman has won this year's Holt Festival art prize.
His acrylic on canvas portrait of his partner Beth Narborough was unanimously declared the winner the judges.
Norwich born Mr Tidman now lives in Gorleston and has a studio in Great Yarmouth.
He attended Great Yarmouth Art College from 1957 to 1961 before attending the Royal College of Art from 1961- 1964. He has painted many pictures of Beth, who has suffered from MS since the age of 17 and in 1996 staged an exhibition at Norwich's King of Hearts gallery that was exclusively made up of portraits of her.
The judges - Amanda Geitner, chief curator at The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, London art adviser Nic Tyler and Norfolk-based, internationally renowned 'pop' artist Colin Self - chose the winner from 250 entries from around the UK.
Mr Tidman's work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in London, Zurich, Holland, and Finland.
He wins a prize of £1,500 and the painting will also be exhibited at The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art in the Autumn.
After his success he said: 'Even after all these years as a professional artist it's a real thrill to win this award – especially from such a distinguished panel of judges and in the face of such serious competition.
'I have to say I have known Colin Self all his life - we grew up in the same part of Norwich. I completed this painting in 1996 and he has actually asked to buy it off me several times.'
Portrait of Beth Narborough and 33 shortlisted works can be viewed throughout the Holt Festival (until July 26) at The Auden Theatre foyer at Greshams in Holt 11am–5pm.
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