GLASS artist Maralyn O'Keefe got the surprise of her life when she received a call inviting her to tea with the Queen.

Mrs O'Keefe and her husband Ron, received the invitation to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of her work.

The Consett artist has exported her products across the world and opened a gallery in Consett, which houses the work of 62 North-East artists. She also had a piece of her work presented to the people of Omagh by Cabinet Office minister and former Northern Ireland secretary, Mo Mowlam.

Mrs O'Keefe has achieved all that in just two years since she decided to convert the front bedroom of her home in Medomsley Road into a workshop and set up Glass Design UK.

However, it still came as a shock when she took the call inviting her to Buckingham Palace.

"It was a surprise but it was wonderful," she said.

"Everyone was dressed up and stood outside Buckingham Palace. When we actually went in through the French doors and then into the beautiful gardens it was really unbelievable. Everyone was in awe of it and it makes you feel really special.

Tourists visit Mrs O'Keefe's gallery from all over the country and she is involved with a tour of workshops across the region.

She is currently passing on her skills to Japanese artist Noriko Hoki, who is learning the art of lead stained glass.