AFTER ten years of coaching, a County Durham artist has been told she is ready to go it alone.

Daphne Weerasinghe, from Middleton-St-George, has been taking lessons from watercolour artist Judith Milne.

She developed her interest in art after retiring from her work as a psychiatric staff nurse.

Mrs Weerasinghe travelled once every two months to Redding, where Ms Milne is based, to learn from her mentor.

Now, after learning the finer points of painting flowers, mushrooms and birds, Daphne has told her she is ready to focus on developing her own style.

She said: "She taught me so much, I am very grateful to her. She has told me I don't need any more lessons.