Eight-year-old photographer from Llandrindod Wells, Jamie Smart, has won the Under 12 category in the British Wildlife Photography Awards.

The British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) is a unique celebration of British wildlife. The BWPA was founded in 2009, and has grown into the revered competition that it is today.

The competition is directed by photographer Will Nicholls and winners were announced at a ceremony in Bristol on Thursday, March 14.

Each year, the BWPA images are toured around the UK in a travelling exhibition, and published in collection books.

Jamie’s winning image is of a wild pheasant perched on top of a farm gate with blossoming blackthorn in the sunrise. Another one of her images of a Manx Shearwater in flight was Highly Commended.

Talking about the winning image, She said: “We don’t get to see many pheasants here so I was really pleased to see this fella looking so colourful sitting on the gate very early.

“We got up up really early and I was hoping to see some boxing hares so we took a drive out to common land to see if we could find any. On the way there I spotted this pheasant sitting on the gate and made dad stop the car and reverse really slowly back to a spot where I could put my lens out of the window and get some photos of him.”

Speaking about winning the award, Jamie said: “I am over the moon to have won my age category in the BWPA! I was wishing hard and really hoping I got something but when I found out that I won and also had a Highly Commended…. well, I was just speechless!

“I love wildlife and photography and my wish is to get more and more images of nature to help people fall in love with it and want to help look after it.

“I feel amazing. I’m just so proud that my images won. It’s getting more and more difficult to find wildlife so I try to make the most out of any opportunity I get to get some really good photos.”