A SCULPTOR who fills galleries with drapes of hanging cellophane and uses materials ranging from dry powderpaint to lipstick is one of two Scottish artists shortlisted for Britain's leading art prize.

Karla Black's nomination for the Turner Prize yesterday capped an extraordinary surge of interest in the artist in the contemporary art scene. She will also represent Scotland at the Venice Biennale, the international art showcase, next month.

Ms Black was installed as the early favourite for the £25,000 art prize yesterday by bookmakers William Hill. Her fellow Glaswegian Martin Boyce, who was Scotland's chosen artist at Venice two years ago and known for metallic tree-like sculptures, is also on the shortlist.

The London-based film artist Hilary Lloyd and Devon-based painter George Shaw are the other contenders. Glasgow has carved out a regular presence in the Turner Prize shortlist in recent years, with Glasgow School of Art graduates making a string of appearances as nominees and winners.

Andrew Dixon, chief executive of Creative Scotland, said: "Karla and Martin are two of Scotland's most exciting creative talents and their nominations reinforce Scotland's reputation as an international centre of excellence for the visual arts."

Fiona Bradley, director of Edinburgh's Fruitmarket Gallery, is curating Ms Black's Venice show, financed by Creative Scotland with more than £150,000 in grants. She called it "fantastic news" that would add to the artist's profile in Venice.

"Her work has a very immediate appeal," she said. "The materials she uses aren't controversial. They are not so much the material of the art shop, but the home."

Ms Black is already at work in Venice on her Biennale show working with materials including soil, sugar and soap.

The Turner Prize, established in 1984, is awarded to a British artist under 50 for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work in the past 12 months. Previous winners have included Grayson Perry, Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor and Rachel Whiteread.

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