Renowned illustrator and designer Daisy de Villeneuve has produced a series of portraits in her distinctive, colourful style for Great North Run Culture. Titled Run Colour Run  the portraits are of a range of people at the 2012 Bupa Great North Run - from staff behind the scenes, to fun runners, onlookers and even security staff at the finish area in South Shields.

Two of the portraits are of international Olympic and Paralympic athletes Daisy met at the event last year. Canadian Paralympian Josh Cassidy has won more than 75 medals in his career to date. In the Bupa Great North Run he first won the men’s wheelchair race in 2008, and then again in 2011 and 2012. He came head to head with British Paralympic star David Weir this year, as well as taking part in the Tyne Tunnel 2K wheelchair race. US track and field sprinter Ryan Bailey was silver medallist in last year’s 4 x 100m relay at London 2012 and is one of the top ten fastest Americans over the 100m. Last weekend he competed in the men’s 100m at the Great North CityGames against James Dasaolu, who became Britain's second fastest ever sprinter with his 9.91 clocking in July.

Josh and Ryan were Daisy's guests of honour at the gallery and got see their portraits for the first time before the exhibition opened to the public. Beth Bate, Director of Great North Run Culture said, "We were keen to get Daisy involved because her work is so colourful, and so is the Great North Run."

You can see Run Colour Run at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle until 3 November - entry is free and the gallery is open Tues - Sat 10am - 5pm and Sundays 2pm - 5pm. Mugs and postcards with four of Daisy's portraits, including Josh and Ryan, are also available to buy in the gallery shop.