Lancashire artist shortlisted for Turner Prize

A Lancashire based artist is on the shortlist for this year's Turner Prize.

Lubaina Himid, who was born in Zanzibar, is 62.

Himid celebrates black creativity and the African diaspora with her work, which includes paintings, prints, drawings and installations.

A key figure of the Black Arts Movement, she currently lives and works in Preston.

Her work, along with that of the three other shortlisted artists, will be displayed in an exhibition at the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull as part of the UK City of Culture celebrations from September 26 2017 until January 7 2018.

The winner - who will receive a £25,000 prize - will be announced at a ceremony aired live on the Turner Prize's broadcast partner the BBC on December 5.

Named after the landscape painter JMW Turner, the prize has attracted heated debate since its inception in 1984.

Previous winners have included Damien Hirst, famous for his pickled shark, Chris Ofili, known for incorporating elephant dung into his paintings, Martin Creed, who displayed a light going on and off, and transvestite potter Grayson Perry.

It is awarded annually to an artist born, living or working in Britain, for an outstanding exhibition or public presentation of their work anywhere in the world in the previous year.

Since 2011 it has been staged outside London every other year.