A BENFLEET student is celebrating after winning a national prize for her artwork.

Michelle Tuddenham won the Care Programme Approach Association’s art competition with her painting, Catching Fire.

She developed her skills at South Essex Partnership’s open arts courses.

Michelle said: “I’ve been focusing on making textures with paint techniques and mixed media over the last few months.

“In Catching Fire, I experimented with paintbrushes, sponges and acrylic paint. I love autumn and really wanted to recreate it with lots of vibrancy and, of course, colour.

“I was really pleased with the finished product and am so happy to have won”.

Participants were asked to produce a cover for the association’s journal, the Approach, showing spring, summer, autumn or winter.

Open Arts is an arts and health programme, which aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for people with mental health problems and their carers.

Michelle will receive £30 of art materials, a year’s free subscription to the Approach and a certificate.

Michelle added: “I want to thank Open Arts for the great opportunities they have given me over the years – without them none of this would have been possible.”