A PATRIOTIC portrait of the Queen has gained the Royal seal of approval -- despite showing Her Majesty complete with a blue rinse.

The oil painting by 15-year-old Ribble Valley teenager Isobel Bidwell is completely created using red, white and blue to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Isobel, from Hurst Green, stumbled on the idea as part of her colour theory work for her GCSE art portfolio and spent two months perfecting it.

And the Stonyhurst College pupil was delighted to receive a reply after sending a scanned copy to Buckingham Palace.

A letter written by Sandringham House lady-in-waiting Jennifer Gordon Lennox on behalf of Her Majesty includes a thank you from the Queen to Isobel and teacher Jo Robinson.

Lady Gordon Lennox said: "The Queen wishes me to thank you for your letter and photograph of your painting.

"The Queen was interested to hear that you had selected her as the subject of your portrait in celebration of her Golden Jubilee and had worked so imaginatively to incorporate the national colours of red, white and blue.

"The Queen was delighted to see the painting and know that it is on display in the school.

"You must feel very proud of your achievement."

Isobel said: "I chose to paint a portrait of the Queen as it was her jubilee year when I started this work and the colours red, white and blue seemed an obvious choice."

"I am very honoured to have received the letter. It was written in such a friendly way and is something to be treasured."

Isobel, who hopes to work in the field of creative design, is hoping for an A* grade for her GCSE Art.

Her painting is on display in the college's lower gallery, near a signed portrait of the Queen, who visited the college in 1994 as part of its 400th anniversary.