A Glasgow filmmaker has been awarded a £30,000 grant to produce an animation about a girl and her lifelong relationship with books.

Sarah Grant is one of only five people in the UK and the first Scot to be recognised by the Sky Academy Arts Scholarship.

It supports emerging talent between the ages of 18 to 30 allowing them to take their creative career to the next level.

More than 1100 applications were received from across the country with the winners judged by a panel including writer and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg and Farooq Chaudhry creative producer at the English National Ballet.

Sarah, a videographer and animator based in Glasgow is originally from Clydebank. She studied English, film and media at Stirling University and now works for Apex Training and Creative but has been given a year off to produce the animated film with her funding.

She said: “I was really shocked when I found out I had won a Sky Academy Arts Scholarship. I didn’t think a wee lassie from Glasgow had big enough ideas to win.

“I am honoured to be the first Scottish winner because I feel Scotland is on the brink of playing a really important part in the British film industry and I hope to play a part in that.”

Melvyn Bragg said there was nothing more important than giving professional mentoring and opportunities to young people.

He added: “The more skilful and confident they are then the better our future and theirs. Sky Academy is tackling this head-on giving bursaries of £30,000 per person which has proved to be career changing for the talented young people who have received them.”

Other grant winners included a classical Indian sitarist and composer from Leeds, a London theatre director, a creative producer from London and a visual artist from Dublin.