An image of a typical London council estate has taken the gold medal award in the London Lives art competition.
The image, Life, by Leicester-born artist Akash Bhatt, was painted on used newspapers.
It will be reproduced to a large scale and then emblazoned centrally on a hoarding line that runs along the eastern side of Blackfriars Bridge, where it will remain for one year and be seen by up to 10 million people.
Bhatt said: "My painting Life depicts people I saw over several days coming home from work near where I now live in Wembley. I don't paint flowers and am more interested in the characters I see every day, but in stirring settings. I believe my painting captures a view of 'London Lives' that a lot of people will recognise."
The silver award went to Nigel Cox for his painting, The North Port Sanction (below).
The two paintings are currently being shown in an exhibition at Bankside Gallery, along with the other 98 that made the shortlist. It closes on 19 September.
A proportion of the proceeds of all work sold in the exhibition will go to Cancer Research UK.
The North Port Sanction by Nigel Cox - the silver award winner. Photograph: Guardian
