Tabernas Desert Run 2004, Simon Starling. Glasgow City Council (Museums), Gallery of Modern Art, bought with the assistance of the National Art Collections Fund.

Simon Starling is the winner of the 2005 Turner Prize. Starling's win was announced by Culture Minister David Lammy speaking at a televised award ceremony held at Tate Britain in central London on December 5 2005.

Having beaten off competition from a shortlist featuring Darren Almond, Gillian Carnegie and Jim Lambie, Starling was presented with a cheque for £25,000.

Starling looked genuinely surprised at his win, and commented only briefly as the news sank in. "I've always been a lucky artist. Lots of trees get struck by lightning before I pick them up; and I found a boat, complete with paddle in it when making another piece of work."

Starling's remark made him a hostage to fortune and as he departed from the award stage he tripped and nearly fell headlong into the glittering audience.

"The genius of the Turner Prize is that everyone gets a chance to celebrate contemporary art," said Culture Minister David Lammy, who announced Starling's win. "They are the Oscars of the art world. I don't mind who wins, as long as it's not Lord of the Rings!" joked the minister.

Installation view, Simon Starling including (left) Tabernas Desert Run 2004 and Shedboatshed (Mobile Architecture No.2) 2005.

The winner was picked by a prize jury including Kate Bush, head of art galleries at the Barbican Centre, and Louisa Buck, London contemporary art correspondent at The Art Newspaper, chaired, as ever, by Tate Director Nicholas Serota.

Starling was shortlisted for his exhibitions at The Modern Institute, Glasgow and the Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona. He 'transforms and reframes existing objects using a rigorous process of research to develop his sculptural installations.' The jury admired his unique ability to create poetic narratives which draw together a wide range of cultural, political and historical references.

The Kinks 2005 by Jim Lambie. Courtesy the artist, The Modern Institute, Glasgow, Sadie Coles HQ, London and Anton Kern Gallery, New York.

The three other shortlisted artists each received a cheque for £5,000 thanks to sponsorship by gin maker Gordon's.

Since it was established in 1984 the Turner Prize has been one of the UK’s most hotly-contested contemporary art awards.

It aims to reward the work, shown in the past 12 months, of an artist under the age of 50 and has been won in recent years by the likes of Jeremy Deller, potter Grayson Perry and video artist Steve McQueen.

Installation view, Simon Starling including (left) Tabernas Desert Run 2004 and Shedboatshed (Mobile Architecture No.2) 2005.

As well as prize money it tends to bring the shortlisted artists to the attention of the wider public like no other arts prize.

Each year the shortlist is awaited with enthusiasm and sniggering in equal measure as parts of the media look forward to what controversial piece will be on there this time around.

With such entries as Tracey Emin’s bed, Damien Hirst’s animals preserved in formaldehyde and Martin Creed’s light switching on and off, they’ve had plenty to pick over.

If I had you by Darren Almond, 2003. Palazzo della Ragione, Milan. Produced by: Fondazione Nicola Trussardi, Milan, photo Marco De Scalzi. Courtesy Jay Jopling/ White Cube (London), Matthew Marks Gallery, New York and Gallerie Max Hetzler, Berlin.

However, the Tate-organised competition continues to offer a unique survey of contemporary art practice and exposes the audience to challenging work they might not otherwise have encountered.

The work of all four shortlisted artists is on show at Tate Britain until January 22 2006.