A villager from Kings Langley won a prestigious art award at a ceremony on Saturday.

Tony Russo won the "Best Up and Coming Published Artist" award at the Fine Arts Trade Guild ceremony held at the Holiday Inn in Elstree.

The 49 year-old, who does "modern abstract art", won the award after having work displayed in galleries in the UK and US. 

The artist said: "Just to be nominated, I was delighted, because you have all the best up and coming artists there.

To be nominated was amazing, but to actually win it was incredible."

Tony, who also owns Oscars Pizza Co, High Street, told the Watford Observer that his paintings were all about colour and were his "form of meditation."

He said: "My main inspiration comes from just having fun with painting. I live a stressful life and painting is like a total get away. It is a break from my usual schedule.

"I have no pre-conceived ideas. I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to have any format. I just start with a blank canvas and paint."