The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Teen gets church online
● Fundraising art fair will go ahead virtually thanks to student
Atech-savvy teenager has helped his village church take its annual fundraising art fair online after plans for the usual event fell apart in the face of coronavirus.
While lockdown has forced the cancellation of all of Methlick Parish Church’s usual fundraising drives, its bi-annual art fair will go ahead for the third year – but in an online format for the first time.
The church’s stewardship, keen to work around the restrictions, called in the help of villager Thomas Smalley, 17, after reading about his successful new online clothing shop Full Stop Apparel in The Press and Journal.
The young student, who hit the headlines last month, dutifully obliged and created an IT solution to make an online art fair possible.
Rev Will Stalder, of Methlick Parish Church, said: “The art show has created a great buzz in the past.
“This is our third time and we’ve once again got a lot of good artwork.
“Thomas was brilliant. We saw the piece on him in The Press and Journal and thought we should ask him to help with the technical aspect of the online show.
“He was great and it wouldn’t have happened without him.
“Thomas was brilliant... It wouldn’t have happened without him”
“It will be encouraging to see the artwork on show online and I also owe a huge debt of gratitude to each of the artists from across the UK from the Isle of Wight to Cullen who have kindly donated artwork for this event.
“The monies raised from this art fair will enable the work of our church here in Methlick to continue.
“Art can be therapeutic and also remind us that there is still beauty in this world, even in the midst of the havoc wreaked by Covid-19.”
Opening yesterday and running until Sunday September 20, the website will feature more than 40 pieces of art including paintings, drawings, pottery and jewellery.
To view, people can visit jumblebee.co.uk/ MethlickChurchAuction