Girlfriend portrait wins award

Marsh won with a portrait of his partner Giulietta Coates

The London-based artist Dean Marsh has won the 2005 edition of the BP Portrait Award with a painting of his girlfriend.

Marsh, 36, presented a portrait of his partner, Giulietta Coates, for the award - which was hosted by London's National Portrait Gallery.

"Giulietta is my girlfriend and I wanted to paint her because I love her," the winning artist said.

"I am not sure about my approach to portraiture except that I try to be honest. I don't flatter," he added.

Sandy Nairne, the director of the National Portrait Gallery, praised the winner.

"Dean Marsh's winning portrait is a direct and penetrating study, painted with great skill and finesse," he said.

"It's a worthy winner in a strong year for the BP award," he added.

Prizes

Marsh won a £25,000 cash prize and will earn a commission worth £4,000 pounds.

But all of the four shortlisted finalists got prizes. Second prize (£6,000) went to Saul Robertson, 26, from Glasgow, who painted himself in his painting garb in The Universe.

Gregory Cumins, 31, who depicted the acclaimed British sculptor Richard Deacon, got third prize (£4,000).

The fourth prize award (£2,000) went to Monkey Painting by Conor Walton, which includes a gorilla with a camera.

Out of this year's record 1,081 submissions, 53 portraits - 40 from the UK - will be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery from June before touring. The prize is for artists under 40.

This is second year in a row an intimate family portrait has won the award.

Last year's top prize went to Scottish artist Stephen Shankland for The Miracle - a portrait of wife Kelly and son Connor, who was born prematurely in January 2003.