Charity artwork makes people 'proud' of area

Stockton mayor Jim Beall said he is still calculating the full total raised on the night

Two charities have thanked an artist after his painting raised thousands of pounds for their causes.

Middlesbrough-born artist Mackenzie Thorpe created a painting depicting his hometown during a football match, with Roseberry Topping, the Transporter Bridge and Newport Bridge in the background.

The piece, called All Together, sold for £11,000 and the proceeds were split between the North East Autism Society and Eastern Ravens.

It comes after Mr Thorpe's first attempt at the artwork to be auctioned was destroyed during Storm Isha, when his studio flooded.

'Fantastic'

The painting was purchased by Teesside businessman Bill Scott, at the Stockton-on-Tees Mayor’s fundraising ball on Friday.

Mr Scott, who grew up on Portman Street within the frame of the work of art, said: "When I heard Mackenzie speak about his love for the area, I just thought ‘count me in’ because what he’s done is so special.

"I know I’ll look at that picture for years to come and see something new every day, and it’s a pleasure to be able to support such wonderful charities.”

North East Autism Society chief executive John Phillipson said: “Whenever Mackenzie speaks to an audience, he moves them with his passion, and inspires them to be proud of their area.

“He has a rare gift, not just as an artist but as a speaker, and it’s fantastic that he’s raised such a fabulous amount of money for two charities."

Tracey Hamilton, the chief executive of Eastern Ravens, which supports children and families in Stockton, said: “I am absolutely blown away.

"I had tears rolling down my cheeks as Mackenzie spoke, and I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done."

Storm damage

During the fundraising ball, Mr Thorpe told the audience how his first attempt at producing an artwork for the occasion had been ruined, along with a collection of other pieces, when his studio was flooded by Storm Isha.

He said the previous work was destroyed beyond repair and that had to create a new image because it is "impossible to recreate a piece that captures the same feeling".