ART student Sarah Cosby from Lockeridge, who has been named International Artist of the Year, had a little bit of help from a family friend.

Friend and neighbour Bruce Chivers posed for Sarah, 18, for the painting for the Society For All Artists contest. Her life-sized portrait of the retired Devizes building company chairman was judged to be the best entry by an artist under 25 out of 4,000 entries.

In addition she won the best portrait of the year and young artist of the year awards. She won £1,000 plus vouchers for £1,000 worth of art materials, an engraved goblet and £500 worth of art supplies for her former school, St Mary's in Calne.

Her winning portrait was painted in acrylic on board but she used Polyfilla to heighten the features and give the painting greater depth.