Ukrainian artist's unique 'thank you' to town

Buxton landmark Solomon's Temple - the picture will hang in the town's tourist information centre

A Ukrainian artist donated two paintings to the people of Buxton in thanks for their hospitality.

Inna Doroshenko stayed with a host family in the town for six months in 2022 to escape the war back home.

She returned to Buxton for a short stay and presented the pictures to the High Peak Mayor at a special ceremony at the Buxton Tourist Information Centre.

Chairman of Buxton Friends of Ukraine, Bernadette Doley, said: "I think it is fantastic."

Inna Doroshenko said deciding to return to Ukraine was a 'very difficult' decision

"I think it is a moving expression of the connections we have now between our town and the people of Ukraine," she added.

One of the pictures is of Solomon's Temple, which stands on a hill overlooking Buxton.

Mrs Doroshenko said: "I thought that I should do something, in some way, to thank the whole town on behalf of our entire Ukrainian community, for your very noble and kind gesture.

"Lending a helping hand, helping us in this very difficult time for us, this is very valuable to us."

She added that after she returned to Ukraine she would often dream of Buxton and the people she met.

The second picture is of a sunflower field, which is a typical Ukrainian scene.

Inna Doroshenko's picture of a Ukrainian field was what she thought about when she was in Buxton

Mrs Doroshenko lives close to Kyiv and said she regularly sees rockets in the sky as the war there continues.

She added: "Deciding to return to Ukraine was a really difficult choice.

"It was my decision to return home because my children - my two boys - missed their Dad."

Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which started in 2022, 133 people have stayed in Buxton.