THE wife of artist Mackenzie Thorpe spoke to The Northern Echo yesterday of the family's relief that a long-running dispute with a member of the gallery staff is finally over.

An industrial tribunal has cleared Mr Thorpe and wife, Susan, of the unfair dismissal of sales assistant Angela Davis in 2001.

A hearing in Newcastle last year heard Miss Davis allege she was bullied by the artist renowned for his paintings of "square sheep" and the industrial North-East where he grew up.

She claimed relations deteriorated to such a degree that she was off work for 33 weeks with depression, and was subsequently dismissed as she was unable to do her job.

However, the Thorpes maintained they had tried to resolve Miss Davis' complaints amicably and, yesterday, it was confirmed the tribunal had unanimously found in their favour.

Mr Thorpe is still working in the US and was informed of the decision by phone.

But, speaking at the Arthaus on Richmond's Finkle Street yesterday, Mrs Thorpe said: "We are so relieved. For a small business like ours, it has taken so much time and energy to fight this case. We support the principles of tribunals but we have learned a lot from this and have changed our policies when it comes to employment.

"It may not always be easy to use lawyers to draw up employment contracts, but we have found out it may prove cheaper in the long run.''

Mrs Thorpe said the tribunal had found no real evidence that her husband had bullied Miss Davis and she denied any suggestion he had moved to the US to escape the pressures of the case, insisting the family missed Richmond and North Yorkshire.

She said: "It was simply work which took Mackenzie over to the States.

"There were so many opportunities over there and it was the right time in his career to take them on.''

Miss Davis has opened an art gallery in Richmond's Finkle Street since leaving the Thorpes and, although disappointed by the tribunal ruling, remained philosophical yesterday.

"This took two years of my life, but I think I have come out of it a stronger person.

"I have managed to make a success of my own business and I would like to thank my family, friends and customers who supported me throughout the tribunal.

"I also owe a lot to the GMB union. Without them, workers would find it hard to stand up for their rights."