Blue the cat inspires Torbay teenager in national competition glory

Paignton's budding star photographer Austin Lake has added another prestigious award to his growing list of photographic successes.

Austin, 13, secured the top spot in the Pet Personalities category of the RSPCA's Young Photographer of the Year Awards.

His winning image entitled ‘A Perch With a View’ featured his nine-year-old cat Blue sunbathing and watching birds.

Austin, who only started taking photos 18 months ago when people told him he had an eye for it, won the title at an awards ceremony at the Tower of London.

The prestigious awards invites young people aged 18 years and under to capture the animal kingdom on a camera or a mobile device and supports the RSPCA’s mission to inspire everyone to create a better world for every animal. 

Austin said: “It’s unbelievable. I’m so excited to have won and the fact that the awards are in the Tower of London is mind blowing. 

"My favourite subject to photograph is my cat, Blue. He loves to perch on the bannister at the top of the stairs and stare out at the back garden.

"It’s the perfect sunbathing spot where he can watch the birds. I love this photo as his body looks relaxed but you can see his eyes are following something in typical cat style.

"He is such a gorgeous and magnificent boy so wherever he lies or sits, he is so photogenic to me. We have had Blue since he was 10 weeks old and he’s now nine and a half. I can’t really remember a time before he was part of the family.”