More than 60 artists support charity auction
More than 60 of the UK’s leading artists have donated works to be auctioned to raise vital funds for the Horatio’s Garden charity, which has a garden in Shropshire.
The charity supports patients, their loved ones and NHS staff affected by spinal injury by creating and nurturing beautiful, accessible, therapeutic gardens in NHS spinal injury centres including the Midlands centre at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital near Oswestry.
It will feature works by renowned British and international artists including Maggi Hambling, Tim Burton, Sean Henry, Vanessa Jackson and Rob and Nick Carter, alongside some of the UK’s most exciting emerging artists, including Christabel Blackburn, Patrick Morales-Lee, Dawn Beckles and Hitomi Hosono.
The auction is being curated in collaboration with fine art auctioneers Woolley & Wallis. Artists will receive a maximum of 50 per cent off the sale price, with a minimum of 50 per cent being donated to the charity. However, the majority of the artists involved are generously donating much more.
Online bidding for the works featuring in the Horatio’s Garden Summer Art Auction opens at 9am on May 15 at www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb
Artists
Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie, Royal Patron of Horatio’s Garden said: “I’m so grateful to all the artists donating works to the Horatio’s Garden Summer Art Auction.
"With their and the buyers’ support, the auction will help ensure the future of the charity’s stunning gardens across the country and will enable work to continue to improve the lives of everyone affected by spinal injury”.
Artist Maggi Hambling added, “Beautiful gardens, art and music are a heady combination. I trust the auction will help to make this feast for the spirit continue and thrive.”
Mouth painting artist Keith Jansz, who was paralysed from his shoulders down following a car accident in 1995, has donated a painting that aptly depicts a summer garden scene, with the mass of gorgeous blooms reflecting his signature impressionist style.
Jansz said: “The last year has made society acutely aware of the value of such simple pleasures as fresh air and nature.
"In the past, long term residents of spinal units have been denied this enjoyment and diversion. I clearly remember my first experience of being wheeled out into the sunshine, to hear the birds singing and to smell flowers – after months of confinement on the ward it was transformative.
"But that was before Horatio’s Garden took such experiences to another level. Providing privacy and distraction from the overwhelming reality of the ‘new normal’ following a spinal injury, the gardens are lifesaving.
"Following my spinal injury, I learnt to paint by holding a brush in my mouth. The beauty of nature is a constant inspiration for my work. I’m delighted to be supporting Horatio’s Garden by donating this oil painting of sunflowers and delphiniums in my own garden in Oxfordshire to the Summer Art Auction."
