A NEWPORT student said he was ecstatic after he bagged a national photography prize.

James Thomson's "The Depths of Spring", an atmospheric portrait of two horses drinking from a pool, was picked as best in the country in the "Beauty of Mono".

Documentary Photography student Mr Thomson, 20, said the picture was taken in his childhood home of the Fens.

He said: "It is one of a series I've taken of a man who has dedicated his life to breeding horses."

"I felt it was very sad that he was having to sell his farm and wanted to document the man and his work."

Mr Thomson, who has studied photography since he was 16, says he enjoys black and white photography and working in a traditional dark room.

His original photography tutors in Cambridgeshire encouraged him to study at Newport, he said.

The student added: "The staff here push you to be really creative and to produce the best work you can."

The prize included £350 of Ilford Photo products, who ran the competition, as well as a two-day workshop with a professional photographer.

His work will be displayed at the Focus on Imaging Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham from February 24-27, and can also be seen on his website at www.jrthomson.com.