Scots singer Emeli Sande wins critics' choice
Singer-songwriter Emeli Sande has won the critics' choice award at the Brits.
The 24-year-old, who was born in Alford, Aberdeenshire, will receive the prize at the music awards ceremony in February.
The R&B and soul singer gave up studying medicine at Glasgow University to pursue her career in music.
The prize represents the view of a panel of experts that she is the act most likely to achieve significant success in 2012.
Emeli first experienced chart success as a guest vocalist with the rapper Chipmunk.
She has written songs for Susan Boyle and Cheryl Cole, and signed a publishing deal with EMI.
Her first solo success was "Heaven", and the follow-up recording was "Daddy".
Previous winners of the critics' choice award include Adele and Jessie J.
Speaking to Radio 1's Newsbeat earlier this year, she said it had been hard to give up her degree.
"It was a massive crossroads. It was the first massive risk I took."
Citing influences such as Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone, she plans to release her debut album, Our Version Of Events, in February.