A PHOTOGRAPHER has won a competition with a portrait of an LGBTQ+ campaigner who died last month.

Chris Jepson won the Modern Love category of the Great Exposure Photography competition with his picture, which captured the late George Montague - known as ‘the oldest gay in the village’, with his husband Somchai.

The image was taken during a session at the couple’s home while shooting their individual portraits for The Identity Project - a project by Mr Jepson that “explores what it means to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community today”.

The Brighton photographer said he was “delighted” to be one of the winners of the competition and said: “I think my portrait of an intergenerational LGBT couple epitomises the Modern Love category and proves it’s never too late to find ‘the one’.”

Mr Jepson’s winning image, along with 39 other photos, will be put on prominent display at Heathrow Airport as part of a campaign to celebrate the UK’s cultural diversity and innovative, welcoming spirit.

He said: “In a world where homosexuality is still illegal in more than 70 countries, to have this happy smiling LGBT couple greeting travellers at London’s Heathrow Airport highlights the diversity and equality of our citizens and the welcome we afford to all.”

Mr Montague made regular appearances at Brighton and Hove’s Pride parade, often in a wheelchair decked out in bright rainbow colours and carrying a banner that proclaimed he was the ‘oldest gay in the village’.

Tributes flooded in after his death last month, with the organisers of Pride describing him as a “tireless activist”.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove Pride said: “George has been a prominent part of our community parade for so many years and it really won’t be quite the same without him.

“We’ll certainly be waving the rainbow flag for him and won’t forget him”.

Speaking to The Argus in 2013, Mr Montague said he was grateful to live long enough to see society become tolerant of LGBTQ+ people.

“I spent my early years ashamed of being gay and terrified of being found out and, as the climate has changed, now I want to shout it from the rooftops,” he said.