THE Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland has seen her year in office represented on canvas.

Councillor Carole Simms was captured in her ceremonial robes by well-known artist Philip Boville, who has previously exhibited his works at Kirkleatham Museum and the Pannett Gallery in Whitby.

It was at one of the Kirkleatham Museum exhibits that the artist came up with the idea of a Mayoral portrait.

He said: “I met the Mayor at the ceremony of the return of Mo Mowlam’s portrait to her constituency in October where my own exhibit was still being displayed. She was taken on a tour of my exhibit and she was captivated with the works on display, and I took that opportunity to ask if I could do a portrait of her.

“I have always wanted to paint a dignitary in their ceremonial robes with oil paints and I am delighted that Mayor Simms agreed to be my subject.”

Beginning with preliminary sketches and photographs, it took the Marske based artist six weeks to go from a blank canvas to a stunning finished portrait.

Cllr Simms, who will finish her term in the ceremonial role in May, said: “It is a wonderful portrait and I am very grateful to have this once in a lifetime memento of my term as Mayor.

“I hope this portrait will inspire my grandchildren and their grandchildren in the future to help them realise that background need not be a barrier to achieving great things.”