WEST?Devon sculptor Nick Mackman has been named overall runner-up at the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundations' Wildlife Artist of the Year prize-giving event at the Mall Galleries in London.

Ever popular with the judges, Nick, of Bratton Clovelly, was presented with a £1,000 cheque by wildlife artist and conservationist, David Shepherd and conservationist Mark Carwardine.

Commenting on the winning piece — a delightful group (pictured below) of ceramic wild dog puppies — judge Sonia Ranger said 'they are fabulously playful', with artist and fellow judge Gary Hodges adding: 'Highly individual, utterly charming and a unanimous choice by the judges.'

Nick is a sculptor of one-off ceramic animal sculptures. Her work has been widely exhibited and features in international collections.

She has accepted commissions from British Airways and the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, with which she has been associated for 13 years.

Nick aims to capture the character and personality of her subjects, the results of painstaking study and careful observation in the wild.

She is passionate about the need to preserve rare and endangered species and seeks to enlighten us to their beauty, humour and tenderness.

David Shepherd, who launched the competition in 2008 to raise funds and awareness for endangered wildlife, said: 'The entries were quite magnificent this year but Nick, a previous category winner, is a very worthy runner-up.'

More than 150 works of art were shortlisted for this year's competition.