A BLACKBURN artist who painted a portrait of the Queen Mother for her 100th birthday will now send the completed painting to London as a tribute to her life.

Janice Crawford initially painted the portrait "just for fun" but was put off sending it to Buckingham Palace last year because she was too embarrassed.

The graphic designer at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph was finally persuaded by a work colleague who said that it would be a lovely gesture if she sent it down as a celebration of the Queen Mother's life.

Janice, 35, said: "I painted the picture because she has got a lovely face and a character that just shines through.

"I didn't send it down because I thought they might think I was a bit crazy, I didn't think it was the right thing to do."

Janice has painted all her life and has had exhibitions of her work in Germany and Canada.

She is a portrait artist but does paint other subjects such as babies and pets.