A prize winning painting has found a new home.

One of the winning paintings from last month's Braintree Open Art Exhibition has taken pride of place in The New Deanery care home in Bocking.

Artist Denise Coles lives opposite the care home and her entry was inspired by the view of the home’s grounds from her bedroom window.

She said: “Having enjoyed the view from my bedroom window for 14 years, I decided to paint it, emphasising the shapes of the trees in early spring.

"It’s more like an arboretum than a care home. By day there are squirrels, by night you can hear owls and muntjac deer.

“I certainly enjoyed painting it and, to my delight and surprise, the painting was awarded the Braintree Community Centre Prize.”

Denise contacted Julia Clinton, chief executive of Sonnet Care Homes, which runs The New Deanery, who jumped at the chance to hang the painting at the home.

She said: “It really captures our natural, tranquil setting. The painting is already a talking point for our residents and visitors, it is hanging up in the bistro where they can sit and enjoy it, and it will brighten up the autumnal days ahead.”

For more information about The New Deanery and its ten-acre grounds, see www.thenewdeanery.co.uk