A BUDDING photographer from Hereford has scooped top prize for her 'eccentric' entry in a national photography competition.

Amanda Jackson, who has just completed a photography degree at Hereford College of Arts, won the Portraiture category at the DegreeArt.com Signature Photography Awards in London.

Her photo, entitled Mauro and Simon, focused on British eccentrics and quirkiness and was produced as part of her degree work.

She will now receive representation and support from DegreeArt for the next 12 months.

"The photo was a celebration of British eccentricity," said Amanda, who lives in Three Elmes, Hereford.

"It was taken in London and took about a day to set-up and do."

The 27-year-old, who was born and brought up in Canada, is no stranger to London having spent four years in the capital assisting professional photographer's. She had previously spent five years at Hereford College of Arts working towards her Higher National Diploma, and was glad to return to the county.

"I worked all over London but came to a standstill and decided to come back to Hereford where I completed my degree.

"The course at Hereford (College of Arts) was fantastic.

"I think it's important people realise that such good courses do run outside London. There are lots of positive things about doing a course in a smaller college, such as more one-on-one tutorials and having a close knit group of people around you."

The DegreeArt.com Awards were launched this year and are supported by the Daily Telegraph. Judges included representatives from The Times and the photo agency Magnum.

The categories are; Still Life, Documentary, Landscape and Interiors, and Portraiture.

* DegreeArt is a company selling, commissioning and renting artwork created by students and recent graduates of prestigious art courses