A PHOTOGRAPHER is celebrating after she was named as a runner-up in a national competition.

Claire Elliott, 37, of Regent Street, Shildon, was runner-up in the portrait section of the Photographers of the Year Award.

The competition entered by Mrs Elliott, who owns Forever Memories, on Hope Street, in Crook, was run by The Guild of Professional Photographers Awards.

Entrants submitted photographs throughout the year and they were awarded gold, silver or bronze bars that are worth three, two or one point.

At the end of the year those with the most points won the awards. Mrs Elliott won 50 bar points and three of them were gold.

Mrs Elliott said: “My dad, Stephen Andrews, was a photographer and I enjoyed going into his dark room and seeing the magic take place.

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

“I had some spare time after I had my children and I got into photography.

“When I realised that I was the runner-up I was shocked as I couldn’t believe that I was in the top ten.”

She won a glass trophy and three certificates plus a lifetime membership to the Guild of Photographers