The Scotsman’s Ian Rutherford has been named photographer of the year for a record fourth time.

Ian picked up the prestigious gong at the annual First ScotRail Press Photography Awards in Glasgow last night.

His winning portfolio included shots of troops from the Royal Regiment of Scotland returning from Iraq, the Open Golf and the Highland Open surfing competition. His previous successes came in 1994, 1997 and 1998.

Ken Lennox, former Sun picture editor and chairman of the judges, said: “Ian’s images show tremendous range across news, sport and features – a great set of pictures.

“He’s consistent, patient, poetic, observant and a complete perfectionist. A very worthy winner in a strong category.”

Ian also collected the award for picture essay of the year and was highly commended in the sports photographer category.

Other notable winners were Denis Straughan, who received a lifetime achievement award, and the Press Association’s Andrew Milligan who took home two prizes.

He won best news picture for an image of murdered teenager Vicki Hamilton’s father being restrained by police outside court and the open category – voted for by the public – with an amusing shot of a young Highland cow in the snow.

The judging panel comprised Ken Lennox, Napier College Edinburgh lecturer Colin Cavers, head of photojournalism training at the NCTJ Paul Delmar, ex-picture editor of the Scottish Daily Express Stan Hunter and the Sunday Times picture editor Ray Wells.

All winning and highly-commended images will be posted on the awards website. Awards sponsor First ScotRail is also arranging to showcase the winners at railway stations and other venues in Scotland.

Celebrity picture of the year – Coldplay singer Chris Martin asleep on a Scottish ferry by Mark Anderson

The full list of winners is:

Photographer of the Year
Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman

Picture Essay of the Year
Winner: Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman
Highly Commended: Kirsty Anderson, Sunday Herald

Features Photographer of the Year
Donald MacLeod, The Scotsman

Sports Photographer of the Year
Winner: Ian MacNicol, Freelance
Highly Commended: Ian Rutherford, The Scotsman

Local Photographer of the Year
Winner: John McIntyre, Freelance
Highly Commended: Gordon Fraser, East Lothian News

Student Photographer of the Year
Winner: Claire Cox, Stevenson College Edinburgh
Highly Commended: Johnny Mclauchlan, Glasgow Metropolitan College

News Picture of the Year
Andrew Milligan, Press Association

Sports Picture of the Year
Winner: Tom Main, Freelance
Judges’ Commendation: Rebecca Lee, Ideal Images

Celebrity Picture of the Year
Winner: Mark Anderson, Sunday Mail/Freelance
Highly Commended: Gordon Terris

Newspaper of the Year
Winner: Sunday Herald
Highly Commended: Daily Record

Magazine/Supplement of the Year
Joint Winners: Herald Magazine and Sunday Times ‘Ecosse’

Open Category
Andrew Milligan, Press Association

First ScotRail Employee Photographer of the Year
Winner: John Hay
Highly Commended: Alan Wallace

Young Photographer of the Year
There was no award in this category after it was pulled by judges.