A STUDENT has beaten hundreds of artists to take top prize in a competition.

Kaye Song, 18, from Colindale, came first in National Open Art Competition’s first ever World Vote with her A-level coursework, an oil painting called ‘Asleep’.

A former pupil at North London Collegiate School, in Canons Drive, Edgware, her work will be displayed at a winter exhibition at the Royal College of Art next month.

Kaye created ‘Asleep’ for her final art A-level project, which asked students to create art under the theme ‘wrapped’.

She said: “I wanted to capture the quiet intimacy of someone asleep, wrapped in their duvet, and asked my friend to pose for me. I took a lot of photos of her then spent two or three days painting. I love the process of painting so much, I can spend ages doing it.

“This is the first time I’ve entered an art competition and I never thought I would get this far. The main thing spurring me on was the idea of exhibiting at the Royal College of Art, it’s such an amazing opportunity.

“I would definitely encourage others to enter next year, you’ve got nothing to lose and you might just end up surprising yourself.”

Kaye beat more than 500 entries by professional and amateur artists to win first place.

Her artwork will be displayed alongside 134 pieces selected from the other entries, with prizes worth a total of £50,000 up for grabs.