EVENING Times cartoonist Kieran Meehan has been nominated for an American award.

But the man who makes our readers chuckle admitted he won't be laughing all the way to the bank if he wins.

The 54-year-old cartoonist joked: "I'm not aware of any cash prize I'm just in for the honour."

Kieran has been nominated for the National Cartoonist Society Award.

The society is American so fans have been visiting our website at www.eveningtimes.co.uk to catch the brand of Meehan humour readers of Scotland's favourite evening newspaper have enjoyed for almost two years.

He said: "I'm amazed especially since my cartoons appear only in the Evening Times. But it's the equivalent of the Oscars, so I'm very surprised."

Kieran submitted 12 cartoons which appeared in the UK's Regional Newspaper of the Year last year. Judges have now put him on a short list with two others in the newspaper category.

His competitors are both thought to be Americans but the artist from Glasgow's West End remains hopeful of pocketing a gong at the finals in Orlando in a few weeks.

Kieran said: "At least I know I have a one-in-three chance."

The nomination is seen as an accolade by the former pupil of St Augustine's Secondary in Pollok, who was sent by teachers for an eye test after they discovered he was "blind as a bat".

Staff also recognised his drawing talents and sent him to Saturday classes at Glasgow School of Art.

His big break came when Private Eye editor Ian Hislop accepted one of his cartoons. It led to him getting work with a top US syndication agency.

As a result his syndicated strip is widely read in America, Portugal and Malaysia.