Greta Friggins and Anne Axford

Blank canvas builds Hospice emblem at People’s Gallery

Emma shares this latest news from Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Ed


Nearly 70 people have helped fill a blank canvas with a sea of sunflowers, Earl Mountbatten Hospice’s emblem, raising funds for patient and family care during Open Studios 2016 (15 to 25 July 2016).

Public involvement
A number of artists including Hospice Trustee Anne Axford exhibited their work at the People’s Gallery in Ryde during the Open Studios initiative.

The blank canvas formed part of the display and visitors to the exhibition were invited to paint or draw on their own sunflowers in return for a £1 donation to the Hospice.

Visitors were able to paint a petal, a whole flower or anything else appropriate under the theme of ‘sunflowers’.

Over £130 raised
Anne said:

“Thank you so much to everyone who visited the gallery and helped to make such a lovely picture. We managed to raise almost £135 for patient and family care and create a unique piece of artwork in the process.”

The finished picture was presented to Greta Friggins, whose name was pulled out of a hat.

Sunflower painting

During Open Studios, Anne exhibited watercolour animals and print cards using a range of styles and media. Her fellow artists included Isle of Wight Ceramics, Silver Meadow Designs, land and seascape artist Peter Allen, oil painter Isobel Evans and Abi Wheeler who makes utilitarian pouches, pockets and nets that explore hard working materials and processes traditional to coastal life.