Celebrity art auction includes work by Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones
FANCY owning an original piece of art by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood? Or a creation by Sir Grayson Perry? You could be in with a chance as their works are among those which are featured in a celebrity postcard auction which is aiming to raise thousands of pounds for Northleigh House School near Hatton.
Rock icon Wood has sent in his postcard entitled Keep it simple…easy does it, which has an auction estimate of £100-£200.
A more detailed postcard has been donated by Sir Grayson – it features a queen with a crown and a striped cat sat her lap. It’s called Queen and Cat and has an estimate of £600 to £1,000. The BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee judge, Patrick Grant, provided an evocative photographic collage of the Ark of Bukhara, estimated at £50-£100.
The online charity auction is now open and runs until 6th October. Bidders have the chance to compete for dozens of original, signed artworks on postcards.
The profits will be used to help the school, which caters for vulnerable children who have faced serious challenges, such as bullying and anxiety, expand into a new site.
Aysha Cook, the school’s head of art, said they had received an overwhelming response from celebrities, artists and creative figures.
She told the Herald: “Art is a great way to express creativity and the children at the school respond to the art around them because it helps them express themselves.
“I’d seen a postcard auction used to raise money for other charitable causes in London and thought we could try it too. I contacted over 60 artists and celebrities and sent them postcards and paid for the postage and packaging, and the response has been incredible.
“We hope to raise around £2,000 but anything more than that is most welcome.”
Many of the postcards are being sold without reserve.
The school’s chair and co-founder, Viv Morgan, added: “All of us at Northleigh are so excited about our postcard auction, featuring fantastic one-off artworks to support our school.
“The funds raised thanks to Aysha’s dedication, and the generosity of artists and bidders, will help us to continue to champion our existing students every day.
“In addition to this we have exciting news; we are expanding Northleigh House School by opening our second site down the road.”
The eBay-style auction is being hosted by Market Harborough-based Gildings Auctioneers which is waiving all charges.
To find out more about the auction and to register, visit www.gildings.co.uk/northleigh.