A talented teenage portrait artist has licked the cometition and will pick up the borough’s top gong at the Havering Young Artist of the Year awards.

Scott Coates, a 19-year-old former Havering schoolboy who specialises in acrylic and oil painting, will receive his award from the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Lynden Thorpe, at the Queen’s Theatre foyer tomorrow (Saturday).

There, all of the winners will be presented with their trophies and certificates.

Scott, from Brentood, was entered for the award by The Campion School, in Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, where he sat his A levels this year before starting a degree in computer visualisation and animation at Bournemouth University.

Scott said: “I am really pleased to have been chosen as winner of this coveted award, which will look very good on my CV in years to come and am looking forward to returning to Havering to receive it.”

The talented young artist has his sights set on a career in the creative industry and has already completed a number of commissions for friends and contacts.

Among his recent work is a family portrait for the head of his former sixth form at The Campion and a music video for a budding local pop artist.

He also has his own art blog and frequently submits work to web-based art sites such as Eatsleepdraw.com.