In the hallowed realms of the art world, Sussex-based Turner Prize nominee Keith Tyson is something of a rarity.

While other artists in the prestigious competition were training at Goldsmiths art college in London, Keith was busy bingo-calling and working in a shipyard in Cumbria.

Now the Brighton artist's humming computer sculptures and poetic paintings, are winning over the critics and the bookies, who have made him odds-on favourite to win the prize.

The self-proclaimed "scruffiest man in art" is not too cool to admit he is flattered by all the attention.

The £20,000 prize money may be peanuts compared to his works' price tags but the critical acclaim which goes with having his work exhibited at the Tate Britain is bringing a smile to his unshaven face.

Keith, 33, said: "I'm very pleased to have been nominated. For the judges to say what I'm doing is significant is a real honour.

"I have a lot of brutal realism in me so it's interesting to be in the prize because people say it's all a bit conceptual and elitist."

Despite leaving school at 15 with no qualifications, Keith has taken the art world by storm with his weird and wonderful pieces.

His exhibit The Thinker, named after Rodin's famous sculpture, contains hidden computers which make his black obelisk hum and whirr.

Keith gained technological experience while making missile submarines in a shipyard after leaving school.

When he went to the University of Brighton to do a BA in alternative practice, Keith felt honoured to be given the opportunity to be creative after years of hard labour.

In his holidays, he worked as a bingo caller but was sacked for "annoying the grannies by reading the numbers too slowly."

For all his northern humour, Keith is very serious about art.

He said: "I am the most ambitious person you will ever meet. I really believe in my work.

"You can approach it in a high art way by looking at the philosophy behind it, or in the most basic way by just appreciating the colours."

After graduating from the university where he met his future wife, Xenia Dieroff, also an artist, he was offered shows in New York, London and Tokyo.

Now he divides his time between his studio in London and his home in Brighton with Xenia and their two children Curtis, two, and Elvis, eight months.

William Hill made Keith the 11-8 favourite to win over Fiona Banner, Catherine Yass and Liam Gillick.

The exhibition runs until January 5 and the winner will be announced on December 8.