RUNCORN-born artist Phil Collins has been beaten in his quest to win the 2006 Turner Prize.
A painter won the prestigious prize for only the fourth time in its 22-year history.
German-born Tomma Abts is also the first female painter to take the £25,000 contemporary art award since its inception in 1984.
She was presented with the prize by Yoko Ono at a ceremony at Tate Britain in central London.
Abts beat Phil Collins, who filmed people who believe their lives have been ruined by reality TV.
His nine subjects included participants from Wife Swap, Super-nanny and Trisha.
Other runners-up included poster artist Mark Titchner and sculptor Rebecca Warren.
The runners-up received £5,000.
