The UK's most prestigious competition for portraits has been won by the director of an art studio set up by the Prince of Wales.

Catherine Goodson triumphed in the �25,000 BP Portrait Award for a painting of her friend Antony Sutch, a headmaster at a Somerset school.

Ms Goodson, 41, runs the Prince of Wales Drawing Studio based in London's bohemian Shoreditch area.

Actor Richard E Grant presented the prize

The studio is part of The Prince's Foundation charity, which funds many of the prince's favoured causes.

Actor Richard E Grant presented Ms Goodson with her award at a ceremony held on Monday night at the National Portrait Gallery.

The artist, who studied at London's Camberwell School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools, will also receive a �3,000 commission to paint a portrait for the gallery's contemporary collection.

National Portrait Gallery director Charles Saumarez Smith said: "It was, as always, a very strong field of submissions from which to pick the winner and the decision was not easy.

"However, all the judges admired Catherine Goodman's thoughtful and beautifully painted portrait."

Guard's effort

Lithuanian artist Zygimantas Augustinas came second with a self-portrait while Mark Shields, a former University of Ulster student who lives and works near Belfast, took third prize.

Meanwhile art gallery security guard Dean Marsh was commended for his effort after being inspired to become a painter by the works around him.

Marsh was on the final shortlist chosen from 760 entries and was awarded �1,000 for his portrait of Rosalind Savill, director of the Wallace Collection in London where he works.

Ms Goodman's portrait and 54 others submitted for the award will go on display at the National Portrait Gallery's Wolfson Gallery from Tuesday.