Hospice art fair to get royal approval
PRINCE Charles is the latest artist to sign up to the town’s biggest charity art fair.
The Prince has donated an artist’s proof of one of his watercolour paintings to the East Cheshire Hospice’s Art Fair 2014, an event organised bi-annually to raise money for the charity.
The signed limited edition lithograph, called ‘The Castle of Mey’, will be part of a silent auction running throughout the exhibition, which runs from Friday, September 26, until Saturday, October 4, at Macclesfield Town Hall.
Fio Brereton, chair of the art fair, said: “We are delighted The Prince of Wales has been kind enough to donate a picture to Art Fair 2014, which will be auctioned to raise money for East Cheshire Hospice.
“The Hospice has been celebrating its 25th anniversary and the Art Fair continues to mark this fantastic achievement.
“At the first Art Fair in 1999 The Prince of Wales donated one of his own works of art for auction, and we are really pleased that he has done so again.”
Tracey O’Keefe, chair of trustees at East Cheshire Hospice added: “It is such an honour that His Royal Highness has donated a limited edition lithograph, and it flects so ll on the ality of t which exhibited Art Fair.” ‘The astle of Mey ’, which epicts
h e ormer holiday home of the late Queen Mother, is one of a limited edition of 20 Artists Proofs.
The castle was built in the 16th century and is the most northerly castle on the British mainland, situated on the north coast of Caithness.
Visitors can view the limited edition lithograph at Macclesfield Old Town Hall throughout the exhibition, which is open from 10am to 5pm every day. Silent bids will be accepted until midday on Saturday October 4, the final day of the show.
The Prince joins more than a hundred artists who will be selling their work in aid of the hospice, with 30 percent of sales going to the cause.
Other work on show includes pieces by contemporary artist and designer, Louise Gardiner, from Styal, and painter Ben Kelly, from Kerridge.
Louise’s work is a unique fusion of drawing,
●» painting, appliqué and machine embroidery techniques.
She has exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery and in window displays at Liberty department store in London.
She said: “I’m delighted to be taking part in this year’s Art Fair raising money for East Cheshire Hospice. took part in one of the first shows many years ago, when was just starting out, and it was a
IIgreat platform for me to begin my journey as an artist in the north west. Taking part in Art Fair 2014 feels a bit like coming home. I’m really looking forward to it and hope as many people as possible will come along to enjoy the show.”
Ben Kelly’s work has been compared to LS Lowry’s and was the first painter since LS Lowry to win the ‘Football in the Arts prize’, which he won when the competition was revived in 2007.
He has created a series of special paintings to appear in the hospice show.
He said: “East Cheshire Hospice is a really important local charity and know it has to raise £1,000s every month just to keep its doors open.”
IFor more information, go to theartofcaring.org. uk.