CALNE based artist Chris Dunn is celebrating after he scooped the £6,000 Bath Prize for his painting, Magpie.

The Bath Prize is an annual competition in which artists are allocated a location in the city to paint, before a winner is selected.

Entrants are allowed to submit other work from around the city so long as they also cover their designated area, but Mr Dunn won with his sole entry.

The 25-year-old Yorksh-ireman, who lives in London Road, was tasked with painting a scene from George Street by the organisers.

Mr Dunn, who divides his time between working in an art shop and working as an illustrator, said: “I just entered the one painting and I won, so I was obviously delighted. I am a member of the Swin-don Artists Forum so I found out about entering through that. Another member told me about it and encouraged me to have a go.”

Mr Dunn has lived in Calne for almost a year after spending time studying art at Swindon College. He said painting the watercolour was a big challenge and it has whetted his appetite for professional art.

He said: “I was given George Street to paint and I was struggling for ideas before I came up with the idea of showing both ends of the street. Doing that certainly made it difficult for myself but it was a good challenge.

“I took some photos in the street and then went home and worked on it. I added the magpie so I could give the effect of depth to the painting and to show how it flies through the street.

“It has made me think about what kind of artwork I would like to do in the future. I think it’s an avenue I would like to explore and it may prove quite fruitful.”