Sande wins best female artist Brit

Feb 20 2013

Chart-topping star Emeli Sande took the first of the honours at the Brit Awards as she collected the best female solo artist prize.

The 25-year-old - who is up for three trophies - beat stars such as Jessie Ware and the late Amy Winehouse to land the award.

Picking up the Damien Hirst-designed trophy from US star Taylor Swift, she said: "This feels amazing. This is incredible and and I'm so happy to win this award."

She was at the O2 Arena among the cream of British and international stars for the event. The singer, who was raised near Aberdeen, thanked her husband, Adam Gouragine, whom she married last summer.

Mumford & Sons picked up the award for best British group, two years after missing out on the prize when they were previously shortlisted. It was the band's second Brit win, having collected the best album prize in 2011.

Frontman Marcus Mumford said: "Thanks very much indeed. We weren't expecting that. I don't think we've really taken the opportunity to thank people who have come to our gigs. We were in a group with Muse and One Direction, so it's a surprise."

The best British breakthrough prize went to Ben Howard, who was last year nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

Collecting the prize from Radio 1 breakfast show host Nick Grimshaw, Howard said: "I'm not very good at speeches. I'm not very good at dancing." And thanking his mother, he said: "She's rung a lot of old friends to ask them to vote for this."

Howard later won the award for the best British male solo artist.

Lana Del Rey picked up the prize for best international female solo artist.