HEATHER Irvine from Shobrooke has been named as a category winner in the BBC Wildlife Magazine Artist of the Year 2013 competition.

Heather won in the Endangered Species category with her image of African wild dogs entitled The Diagnosis.

Here's what the judges had to say about her winning image: "This is the work of a very able artist who has caught the wild dogs with great mood and economy of line.

"There is a pathos that reflects the category title, and made this piece the undoubted winner."

Heather commented: "African wild dogs fascinate me: the social cohesion and close bonds within a pack are remarkable.

"I watched this pack washing in a pool in Moremi, Botswana and this sketch is based on the post-kill communication between individuals, deep in conversation before snoozing in the shade – they reminded me of my family after Sunday lunch!"

As a category winner, Heather's artwork has been published in the September 2013 issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine and on BBC Wildlife Magazine's website: http://www.discoverwildlife.com">www.discoverwildlife.com .

It was also showcased at the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society (miwas.co.uk) exhibition at Rookesbury Park Manor, Wickham, from August 30 to September 1.

More than 1,400 art works were submitted by artists in the competitions.

In 2012 Heather was overall winner in the BBC Wildlife Magazine "Artist of the Year" competition winning the Animals in their Environment category with her image of a moose, entitled The Last Winter as well as the overall title.

Alan Quick