Norwich fine art student Richenda Riches was named the winner of the Bishop's Art Prize 2012 at a special reception at The Hostry at Norwich Cathedral. Thirty-seven-year-old Richenda, from the Norwich University College of the Arts' MA course in Fine Art, who lives in Matlaske, near Aylsham, won the �1,000 prize after impressing the judges with her work 'A Prayer to Martha' which was inspired by the Bible story told in Luke 10:38-42.

Richenda's work features a sculpture of her hands in prayer holding a hand-made tea towel decorated with drawings of women in her local parish doing work in the local parish churches. She said it was the first time she had ever shown her artwork in public and said she was delighted to win the prize.

Kate Hyman's work, Angels, won the second prize of �500, and Hannah Scott's work, What Dreams May Come, won the third prize of �250 at the presentation last night. The Bishop's Art Prize was established by the Rt Revd Graham James, Bishop of Norwich and NUCA principal Professor John Last. • An exhibition of the competition's shortlisted entries is being held at The Hostry from today until Thursday, June 28.The exhibition will be open from 9.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Saturday, and from midday until 3pm on Sunday.