A FLEDGLING body paint artist cried 'tears of joy' as her political statement on the destruction of the oceans won a national prize.

Jade Laforest-Bicknell, a self-taught face painter and mother-of-two from Kidlington, only turned her hand to the little-known art form six months ago.

But the 30-year-old has rocketed to prominence after claiming the top prize at Bodycraft Festival in Cleethorpes accompanied by model Amber Jackson.

Her winning piece, 'Save the Seas', saw her best friend of 15 years painted head to toe as the ocean and festooned with plastic bags and netting.

Mrs Laforest-Bicknell said: "When my husband and I were on honeymoon in St Lucia it was a paradise.

"But seeing all the plastic washed up on the island brought home how gorgeous parts of the world are being destroyed by the rubbish humans are dumping.

"The theme of the event was 'Beside the Seaside'. I'm an avid recycler and we do what we can at home to make sure nothing is wasted; I wanted to put across a message."

At event in the seaside town of Cleethorpes about 35 artists rolled up their sleeves to compete in the 'mixed media' and 'brush and sponge' categories.

Using skin-safe, water-based cosmetics Mrs Laforest-Bicknell covered Ms Jackson in a colourful ocean scene, using an old cushion and carrier bags to make a headpiece.

Following a catwalk show at 6pm the pair were called up to the stage among five other pairs shortlisted for the brush and sponge award.

Mrs Laforest-Bicknell said: "They said my name. It took a while to register; my and Amber were absolutely hysterical. There were tears of joy."

Husband Ellis Bicknell, a firefighter, and daughters Mia, 14, and Leila, six, were also in the audience along with Ms Jackson's five-year-old daughter Maizy.

In recognition of their efforts Mrs Laforest-Bicknell received a glass trophy, £300 worth of paints and a training course with the event's sponsors Façade Academy.

Off the back of her success she is hoping to use the 'liberating' medium to create a piece on the city of Oxford, which it is hoped could be unveiled in August.

She said: "I love how liberating body painting is. Bodies of all shapes and sizes are used and you don't have to be the standard expected in the media.

"What I have encountered in this industry is that people see it as us trying to sexualise it, rather than it being an art form.

"But the models are covered. There's nothing you can see. It's no different to wearing a bikini on a beach.

"You can use this to get so many messages across. It's bold, it's striking and it's on a human being. Creative gears are turning in my brain."

Ms Jackson, 30, from Witney, said: "My favourite part of being a model is spending time with my best friend and being apart of something she is so passionate about.

"Plus I've got to meet lots of fantastic new friends in the face and body art community."