A REDDITCH woman who found her talent for painting while recovering from cancer has just finished her most regal piece to date.

Laura Pirie, of Hillside, Southcrest, used to specialise in pictures of pets until she unveiled her latest painting, a portrait of the Queen Mother.

Mrs Pirie, 62, said: "I've never done a portrait before, it's usually animals or scenery, but one of my friends suggested I had a go because all the centenary celebrations were so popular and I finished it on the Queen Mother's actual birthday."

She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer seven years ago and received chemotherapy treatment at the Alexandra Hospital.

She had often dabbled with art but never received any formal training and her illness made her realise there were more benefits to painting than she could have imagined.

"It was something to occupy my mind. I had watched artists on the TV and my husband bought me a cheap box of paints and said 'why don't you give it a try'.

"Later I bought better paints and better equipment and it gave me the feel for it," she said.

Since then, Mrs Pirie has had her work exhibited at Redditch Library, has joined Redditch Art Circle and often sells pieces to people who visit her home, the walls of which are a tribute to her work.

"A few people have had cat and dog portraits done but my orders mainly come from word of mouth when people buy them and show their friends," she said.

Painting isn't her only hobby either. Mrs Pirie is also a keen entertainer, performing songs and comedy routines with her husband at old people's homes and hospices.

But she would like to encourage more people to take up the brush for its therapeutic effects.

"I would recommend painting whether you are ill or not because it is very calming and you can lose yourself in it.

"If I go upstairs for half an hour, I sometimes forget to cook dinner," she said.

As to her most famous subject, Mrs Pirie is not sure whether the painting will find a buyer and has returned to animals for her next picture.

"The Queen Mum was an exercise really, but it's here if anybody likes it," she said.