AN artistic pensioner has donated her painting of Queen Elizabeth II to Braintree Town Hall as a tribute to the late monarch.

Marion Danes, 94, from Braintree, has always been a keen artist, using oils, watercolours and pastels to create work, as well as enjoying sketching in ink.

She graduated from Ipswich Art School before living in several places across Europe with husband Charles.

Marion eventually settled in Braintree in 1993 where she became a regular attendee at the art classes hosted at Dedham Hall.

As a client of home care company Home Instead Braintree, it was suggested to Marion that she could paint a picture of the Queen to celebrate her platinum jubilee.

Marion was keen to take on the task and produced a painting which was featured in Home Instead Braintree’s platinum jubilee celebrations.

After the Queen’s death in September, Marion donated the painting to Braintree Town Hall to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s 70-year reign.

Speaking about the Queen, Marion said: “She was so lovely and always smiling, and I was just two years younger than her.

“I remember being seated on a float going through Ipswich at the time of the Queen’s coronation.”

Home Instead Braintree owner Mike Sheehy added: “I am thrilled for Marion and that her painting will be hung for everyone to see in the town hall.

“She produced this lovely piece so quickly and with such enthusiasm - she is so talented.”