Artwork for cancer charity
An artist has kept busy during lockdown by creating bespoke commissions in return for a donation to the Beastson Cancer Charity.
Alistair Nicol, from Troon, chose to support the charity as his pal of more than 40 years, Ally McLaws, has terminal cancer and is in the care of Beatson oncologists.
Alistair expected to be sent photographs of girlfriends and wives when he offered to paint portraits of his mates’ ‘favourite faces,’ but instead received an array of faces including a tiger, two calves and eight dogsincluding pal Ally’s boxer dog Mishka.
Unbeknownst to Ally, another friend had asked Alistair to secretly paint a portrait of Ally to give to Ally’s wife Laura in return for his charity donation.
Alistair said: “It was really nice to be painting this surprise for Ally and Laura and keeping the secret that our mutual friend Iain Forbes was paying the commission. I was glad to be doing another human face instead of more dogs ... and then Ally sent me a photo of his dog to paint!
“Little did I know I would get so tied up in secret commissions – and that nearly everyone would regard their dog’s face as their most treasured favourite image instead of their partners!”
Morag Cunnigham, director of fundraising at the Beatson Cancer Charity, said: “We thank Ally so much for nominating our charity as the beneficiary – and Alistair for using his talents to raise the funds – just fantastic and greatly appreciated.
“His paintings are really rather wonderful too.”
See more of Alistair’s paintings at www.facebook.com/alistairnicolart/