AN arty Ickenham student beat off hundreds of candidates to win a national schools photography prize worth £3,000 last week.

Ruby Cripps, a GCSE student at Vyner’s School, was crowned winner of the ‘Making Places’ competition, set up by St Modwen, a property investment and development business.

The prize was launched to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary, and awarded to the GCSE art student whose picture best captured the theme of place-making.

Vish Sodha, Art and Photography teacher at Vyner’s School, said: “Both Ruby and I are extremely overwhelmed and excited with our win.

“To be a finalist for such an outstanding company is rewarding in itself.”

Seven finalists were selected from 400 submissions, with photographs judged by a panel of industry leaders, and the prize itself presented by Conservative peer and committed educationalist, Lord Lingfield.

Ruby’s photograph was taken at St. Andrew’s Park, former site of RAF Uxbridge, and depicts a construction worker overlaid on a photograph of the former RAF buildings.

The judges commended her on the way she successfully captured the essence of place making, by combining the history of the site with the present to reveal a place in transition.

St Modwen is currently developing the site into a complex of homes, offices, a theatre and a public park.

Tim Seddon, St Modwen regional director, said: “Students are growing up with regeneration projects right on their doorstep.

“The competition has helped them to explore their community and get an understanding of what it is that gives a true sense of place to any community.”

Mr Sodha agreed that the competition allowed the students to engage, look and appreciate their surroundings, as well as the development taking place.

For the prize, Ruby was awarded a new state-of-the-art camera and £3,000 to go towards the school’s art department.