Emin is made a Royal Academician

Shock artist Tracey Emin has been made a Royal Academician at highbrow institution the Royal Academy of Arts.

Emin, 43, whose work has included her own unmade bed surrounded by used condom, underwear and vodka bottles, will now be able to put the initials RA after her name and help run the Academy.

The Brighton-born artist famously exhibited her tent, entitled Everyone I Have Ever Slept With, at the controversial Royal Academy show Sensation! in 1997.

Royal Academicians also voted to elect Bradford-born painter Tony Bevan to the 80-strong membership of the Academy.

Emin rose to fame as one of the YBAs (Young British Artists) of the Nineties.

My Bed caused a huge controversy when it was shortlisted for the 1999 Turner Prize and later bought by Charles Saatchi for £150,000.

Emin, whose tent was destroyed in the 2004 Momart warehouse fire, has been made a Royal Academician in the painting category. Her paintings have included water colour self-portraits of herself naked.

The announcement follows news that Charles Saumaraz Smith was quitting as director of the National Gallery to become secretary and chief executive of the Royal Academy.

Each year some of the Royal Academicians, who also include Peter Blake, Antony Gormley and David Hockney, help run the gallery's famous summer show.