FOR retired hairdresser Ann Flatman, painting the magnificent landscapes surrounding her dales home has become an obsession.

Since she and her husband, Alan, a former miner, moved into a cottage above Frosterley, in Weardale, five years ago, she has found it very difficult to put down her paintbrush.

"I find it compulsive, living in a place like this. So far this year I have already painted 17 pictures," said Mrs Flatman, who also worked as a barmaid in a Spennymoor pub before moving to Weardale.

Now her love of painting landscapes has paid off.

Mrs Flatman has beaten strong competition from other artists in the dale and beyond to win first prize in an art exhibition organised by Stanhope Silver Band with the help of Wear Valley Arts.

The prolific artist also picked up the second prize in the competition, which attracted more than 150 entries.

Both her prize-winning paintings were of scenes in and around Frosterley. Her work will go on display, along with the other entries, at an exhibition to be held on Saturday at Stanhope Town Hall.

The exhibition will open to the public at 10.30am and will be followed by a concert by Stanhope Silver Band at 7.30pm.

Mrs Flatman said she owed a lot of her success to the Weardale Art Group, which had inspired her to take up painting.

"Everybody is prepared to help each other and that has been absolutely brilliant for me," she said.

Steve Robson, conductor of Stanhope Silver Band, which organised the competition for the first time, said it had involved a lot of hard work, but it had been a tremendous success.

He said he was particularly pleased by the number of entries from children in the dale.

Other winners were: Six and under - Emily Collingwood, Rookhope; seven to 11-year-olds - David Macananey, Rookhope; 12 to 16-year-olds - Victoria Buddin, Billy Row, Crook.