Katie Pope last week picked up The Aspect Prize, open to artists living and working in Scotland.

Judges voting in London were drawn to the bleak Lanarkshire landscapes which inspired Katie.

In one of her paintings, "Buddha and Dogs" a tough-looking local in a Celtic cap wanders between electricity pylons, accompanied by two snarling dogs.

But the tone of her painting is lifted by the bottle of Irn Bru being clutched by the picture's central character, complete with its 79p price tag.

Katie (24) said: "I still can't believe I've won.

"I was wandering in the National Portrait Gallery when one of the judges called me on my mobile phone with the news.

"A fierce-looking lady told me I couldn't use my mobile in there but I told her it was really important."

Katie says she loves Irn Bru and often drinks it while she's painting. The prize-winning entry was inspired by one of her neighbours.

Her pictures and those of three other short-listed artists were hung in Gallery 27 in London's Mayfair to allow the judges to make their choice.

She had already picked up £6,000 for being short-listed the announcement of the £10,000 top prize takes her winnings to £16,000.

Katie said: "I spent some time in Florence but my work from there could not be more different from my paintings from Motherwell.

"I think travel is very inspirational so I might use some of the money to visit different places.

"It might also help pay for my rent for my artist's studio."

The other artists short-listed were Eoghann MacColl (37) from Dunlop in Ayrshire, Jean-Pierre Lapeyre (25) from Aberdeen and Robert MacMillan (33) from Dundee.

Aspect prize chairman Charles Jamieson said:"We were all shocked at how strong her body of work was.

"Katie has an obvious affection for her community and the people and buildings which surround her.

"But her drawing of Giotto's Bell Tower in Florence was so powerful, one of the judges insisted on buying it for his collection."