The Roxby Downs resident of 17 years took out the Oz Minerals sculpture prize during a ceremony in Adelaide.

The award means Ms Young will have until June next year to produce a copper sculpture for the annual SALA festival.

She has a concept for her creation but said “it’s a bit hard to explain until I’ve sorted out all my ideas”.

Ms Young was flown down to Adelaide by Oz Minerals to attend the presentation.

“I was pretty excited. It was a big surprise when they rang, I didn’t realise the award was as big as it is,” she said.

Ms Young said she her husband Mark will work together on the new project and, as part of the award, she will receive funding to buy copper for the sculpture.

Minister for Minerals Resources Development Paul Holloway was one of the judges.

He said copper had long been a part of South Australia, with Australia’s first copper mines opening in Kapunda and Burra in the 1840s.

“Therefore it is great to see resources and the arts working so well together in South Australia,” he said.

“The award provides a wonderful showcase of both industries.”