A NEWPORT photographer wowed judges in a national competition with his collection to scoop a top accolade.

Richard Walton, 26, of Birchgrove Close, Malpas, beat thousands of others from around the world and was last week given the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers’ portrait of the year award.

His winning photograph features a "man in a scary looking mask" at the now derelict Talgarth asylum near Brecon, which closed in 1999.

After reading about its existence on the internet, Mr Walton, who works as a wedding and portrait photographer, thought it would make an ideal setting for a photograph, which he stunted up in the disused building.

He said: "The eyes on the mask are blacked out and my subject just looks like an ugly human being. He is standing in the old canteen, in front of the hatch in a freaky pose and rubbing his hands together as if he is saying “dinner time”.

"It’s a strange scene and even though the asylum has been closed down for 10 years, he thinks everything is normal as he waits for food."

Mr Walton tried to capture what a patient would be like if he had remained at the hospital alone after all the staff and other residents moved out.

The photograph won him £500, while another six shots he entered of weddings and portraits received merits.

He said the response to the win has been "overwhelming", with people contacting him about doing showcases, a German magazine wanting to interview him and camera companies sending equipment.

The former Coleg Gwent Crosskeys college student, who has a studio at Queensway Meadows Industrial Estate, Newport, added: "It’s been a big break in my career, but I just love having a camera in my hand and being creative with it."