AN artist has paid the ultimate tribute to his cleaner - by immortalising her in a prize-winning portrait.

Kidderminster man Colin Simmonds, 60, scooped first prize in the MIDart 2001 competition with Betty - Blue, one of two paintings he submitted to the exhibition held at Himley Hall in Dudley. Artist Colin Simmonds with his prize-winning portrait Betty - Blue at Himley Hall, alongside the inspiration for the painting - his cleaner Betty Harris

And the subject of the painting is Betty Harris, who has been cleaning his house every week since his wife Cynthia died in 1980.

Mr Simmonds won £500 for the portrait, which will be on display at the hall until Sunday, May 13 as part of Dudley's 48th annual open art and sculpture exhibition, which attracted about 100 entries.

He said: "I expected to get them both in but I didn't expect to win."

An art teacher at Harry Cheshire High School for 21 years until 1991, Mr Simmonds has found recognition for his work as far away as America.

He has also had work on display at the prestigious John Davies Gallery at Stow-on-the-Wold.

"I exhibit all over the place," Mr Simmonds added.

The competition was judged by top landscape artists David and Dinah Prentice.