A Norwich University College of the Arts student was last night named the winner of the Bishop's Art Prize – an annual student art competition supported by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James.

Final-year students at NUCA submitted art for the competition, which had the theme of Life Journeys and eight pieces made the final.

The judging panel, including the Bishop, NUCA principal Prof John Last and former Bishop's Art Prize winner Susan Gunn, selected Georgia Dodson's Goldfinches and Thistle-seeds as the winner. BA fine arts student Miss Dodson, 21, from Rockland All Saints, near Attleborough, won �1,000.

The former Attleborough High School pupil, who hopes to stay on at NUCA for an MA, said: 'I'm amazed. I'd like to thank the bishop because the prize is a great thing to encourage students in my position. I'm really pleased.

'Art is something I have always been interested in and I'm very into animal painting. My research included a painting at Norwich Castle by Emily Crome called Dead Birds. She's an incredible painter and really inspirational.'

The two runners-up were Joe Baker for Slaver/Tanker and Aviva Leight for Each day is a journey and the journey itself is home. They won �500 and �250, respectively.

Bishop Graham said: 'I'm keen to encourage the talented students at NUCA to explore our rich spiritual heritage. The church continues to commission art, and the various dimensions of faith have inspired artists in every age, including our own.'

Prof Last said: 'We are incredibly grateful to the Bishop for his support, as we are to the friends of NUCA that have such a positive impact on the student experience by providing prizes, scholarships and bursaries.'