25.000 Euro Art UK Prizewinner

Painter Susan Gunn has beaten 30 shortlisted competitors from 22 countries to win 25,000 euros (£17,000) in the inaugural Sovereign Art Prize. Gunn, wife of former Norwich City and Scotland goalkeeper Bryan Gunn, won with an 8ft, by 10ft red painting. More than 300 European artists submitted work for the prize. "This is a beginning for me... I'm not represented by a gallery yet and that's the next step," said Gunn, who went back to art school six years ago. Sir Peter Blake, famous for designing the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover, was chairman of the judges. The prize was set up to celebrate the best in contemporary European painting and raise funds for the arts. For the full story - click the title Irish Art