Artist Keith Tyson, whose works mix art and science, has won the prestigious 2002 Turner Prize.

Tyson won �20,000, presented by architect Daniel Libeskind, and the publicity and controversy which is tied to the prize.

	:	Turner Prize 2002
See the art shortlisted for this year's �20,000 prize

When nominated, the artist gained some degree of notoriety for having cast the entire contents of a Kentucky Fried Chicken menu in lead.

The bookmakers' favourite at 5/4 on to win, he beat Catherine Yass, Liam Gillick and Fiona Banner to the award.

The competition has, as usual, already generated a great deal of controversy.

Keith Tyson thanked everyone he has met

The shortlist was called "conceptual bullshit" by Labour minister Kim Howells and Tracey Emin, a former Turner nominee, described the prize as undemocratic.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme on Monday, Mr Howells said he did not regret his comment.

"My opinion has not changed," he said.

"Art has been colonised by the incomprehensible classes.

"I love art and have always been passionate about it. The problem is there is now a very small elite of people that believe they are the only ones that can speak about art.

"I have had many letters from people, all of whom have expressed a sense of being alienated from the art establishment.

There would be national mourning if Damien (Hirst) were to go under a bus

Keith Tyson

"The fact is that the avante garde is the establishment now."

Michael Archer, one of the Turner Prize judges, hit back at Mr Howells' argument, saying it was just "one person's view".

"I don't think it is possible to find the work of an artist that will appeal to everyone, everywhere, all of the time," he said.

Works on display from the shortlisted artists this year include a giant poster detailing a pornographic film and a suspended ceiling of coloured plexi-glass tiles.

Judges praised "the strong visual energy" of Tyson's work "across a wide range of media including drawing, painting, sculpture and installation".

The Thinker

Tyson had been nominated for a piece that packs computer equipment into a pillar.

The artist said it was his take on sculptor Rodin's famous piece, The Thinker.

In a short winner's speech, the Cumbrian artist said he had no idea he would win the prize.

Banner's work generated controversy

He thanked everyone who had ever met him or been involved with him, and wished his grandmother a happy 87th birthday.

Later he said: "She has undying faith in me but has no comprehension of what I do for a living."

He said the prize was "a great honour" and that he was relieved the ordeal was over.

"From my own position I've always liked looking at contemporary art and I've always got a lot of pleasure from it.

Computer generated

"That's the thing with Britain, they don't know what they've got until it's gone. There would be national mourning if Damien (Hirst) were to go under a bus."

Tyson uses a wide array of scientific theories, atomic structures and computer-generated ideas for his work.

Part of his Artmachine project were lead chicken nuggets, the painting of 366 bread boards and dropping a thimble of paint from a skyscraper.

Art is to each of us what we get from it. Gary, UK

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Last year the prize was won by Martin Creed, whose entry was a bare room with its lights switching on and off.

He was presented the prize by pop star Madonna, who cased a stir when she swore live on television presenting the award.

Past winners of the award include Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley and Damien Hirst.