AN ARTIST who grew up in Bradford has picked up one of the art world's leading prizes.

Alister Colley, 38, was awarded the title of Best Selling Published Artist 2015 at the Fine Art Trade Guild Awards.

He follows in the footsteps of previous winners Jack Vettriano and Mackenzie Thorpe. Mr Colley, who was born in Harrogate but moved to Bradford as a youngster and was educated in the city, was "overwhelmed" by the honour.

Last year Mr Colley, who lives near Harrogate, was chosen as the official artist of Yorkshire's Grant Depart for the Tour de France, producing the first official Grand Depart painting.

He has also used Bradford landmarks for some of his work, including The Big Switch On featuring City Hall and The Alhambra theatre.

Upon winning the award, he said: "I am totally overwhelmed that my painting has afforded me such a wonderful position. I am over the moon to be elevated to this level, and to be recognised as such by the Fine Art Trade Guild.”

Louise Hay, of the Fine Art Trade Guild, said "Alister Colley is a deserving winner of the Guild's fiercely-contested Best-selling Published Artist Award. His vibrant style is incredibly popular with galleries and collectors alike, who recognise both his considerable technical skill and the tremendous charm of his vision of the world.”

Annabelle Ruston, the editor of Art Business Today, added: “Past winners of this award include famous artists of the calibre of Beryl Cook, David Shepherd and Jack Vettriano and we expect that Alister will go on to achieve a similar level of success."

Mr Colley, who studied art and design at Leeds Metropolitan University, hopes this award will be a launch pad for further exciting projects.

He currently runs an art publishing company, Zeitgest Fine Art in Pateley Bridge, near Harrogate. Zeitgeist Fine Art publishes the work of up and coming Yorkshire artists, including Izzy Hodge, Kate Hunt and Joseph Hayton.

He is also staging an exhibition of his latest works at The Garden Rooms at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, along with fellow Zeitgeist Fine Art artists.

The Zeitgeist Yorkshire Artists Exhibition will run from September 3 to September 16.

The 2015 awards were presented at the Fine Art Trade Guild’s celebration of the art and framing industry held at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate last month. It is the fifth consecutive year that Mr Colley was nominated in the category.