A Welsh artist has defended a cash grant that she has been given to look at women's bottoms. Sue Williams was awarded 23,000 euros by the Welsh Arts Council for the project, which will see her stare at hundreds of behinds.

Sue Williams, who works at Swansea university's art department, makes plaster casts of her own and other women's bums as part of research she has been carrying out in Africa.

Her aim is to examine what role the bottom plays in modern culture, and in particular its importance outside Europe.

She said: "The project is taking on the issues around the bottom and how it is viewed in contemporary culture and by the male. For example, it is quite clear the bottom is sacrosanct to the African man and woman."

Despite coming in for criticism from a British MP, the Welsh Arts Council has defended its decision to award the money to Ms Williams. A spokeswoman said: "Artists and sculptors have been examining human anatomy for centuries, and it's no real surprise that an artist as distinguished and imaginative as Sue should want to continue in that tradition.

"Creating plaster casts of the human body is merely one small element of a wider project.  Sue Williams was awarded a Creative Wales Award earlier this year in recognition of her past achievements and the potential of the new work that she will go on to create."