Sunderland artist raises hundreds for local charities with striking artwork of Captain Tom

Inspired by Captain Tom’s incredible efforts raising millions for the NHS, which saw him promoted to Colonel while becoming a symbol of Britain’s fighting spirit, artist Andy Parkin created a painting of the 100-year-old which was shared tens of thousands of times on social media.

Andy, from Seaburn, auctioned the A4 piece on eBay and it was bought by a man in Leicester for £860.

The granddad, who turned to art as a form of therapy after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, is dividing the proceeds between three Sunderland good causes.

He has already donated £400 to St Benedict’s Hospice, which has lost tens of thousands of pounds in planned fundraising events which have been cancelled due to Covid-19. It’s a cause close to Andy’s heart after the hospice, which is only part-funded by the NHS, cared for his dad Tom Parkin when it was based in Newcastle Road.

The artist plans to divide the remaining amount between Hopewood Park, who helped Andy when he was diagnosed with bipolar six years ago, and the Sunderland branch of the Alzheimer’s Society who helped Andy’s mother Kate Parkin who suffered from the illness.

Andy, who recently gained a first in Fine Art from Sunderland University, said: “A lot of people have been so touched by Captain Tom and I wanted to create a piece of art about him from the heart. I’m delighted with how much it’s raised and that the money can go towards such good causes in Sunderland.”

After the Captain Tom piece was liked more than 40,000 times on Facebook, Andy set to work on a portrait of war veteran Marjorie Lamb using acrylics on plywood and a palette knife and fine brushes.

The 99-year-old former Naval officer from Scotland is also doing sponsored laps of her garden to raise money for the NHS. She’s vowed to get 'one up on the men' before her birthday on May 31.

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