Creative floodgates are opened in aid of appeal

Sep 2 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

MORE than 80 of the North East’s top artists are to auction works for Seaton Delaval Hall after seeing the campaign in The Journal.

Elaine Paige, an artist who lives in Heaton, Newcastle, decided to act after reading about the appeal to raise money for the National Trust to buy the 18th Century Northumberland mansion and 500 acres of gardens and grounds.

She said: “I thought that at least I could give them one of my paintings to raffle at a coffee morning or something.”

But then she contacted other artists and, as the word spread, the idea snowballed.

Now more than 80 artists from the North East have said they will contribute one or more original works.

They will be auctioned on Sunday, October 5, at 6pm in the Art Works Galleries on Stepney Bank in Newcastle, when Anderson and Garland auctioneer John Anderson will give his services for free.

Elaine said she hoped the event would raise anything from £30,000 to £50,000, providing a major boost to the target of raising £1m for the hall in the North East.

National Trust bosses have pledged £6.9m if another £6.3m can be raised nationally by Christmas to acquire the hall from owner Lord Hastings.

Elaine said: “I was strongly drawn to this call for help. The only thing I could donate was a piece of art, but I realised there would be others who felt as passionately as me about saving this wonderful example of northern and national heritage.

“The National Trust has asked the people of the North East to stand up and be counted and the artists’ community has risen to the occasion. I am proud of them.

“I can’t believe how this has gone from strength to strength. All the artists have been so generous.

“The auction will be a chance for people to buy something special in the form of an original artwork and at the same time contribute to a heritage cause which is so important to the region.”

An auction catalogue is being produced and there will be previews on October 4 and 5.

On October 5, artist Charles Evans, who has featured in a TV series, will create paintings to be auctioned that evening.

Matt Forster, artist and director of the Art Works Galleries, said: “The hall is a beautiful building and it is important to save these historic landmarks.”

National Trust spokeswoman Sadie Parker added: “The hall is an amazing place and we want to ensure that it is kept that way. If we don’t raise the £6.3m by Christmas, public access to the hall may be lost forever.”

Images of Seaton Delaval Hall will figure in a number of the works.

A painting of the hall by Seaton Delaval artist John Kerr is valued at £1,800, while an image of the building by Josie Nichol, from Whitley Bay, will be the star prize in a raffle on auction night.

Glass act

GLASS artist Norma Sales is to create a plate in which will be embedded a part of Seaton Delaval Hall.

Norma, from Whitley Bay, plans to infuse lavender from the hall gardens in her glass artwork.

She is also producing five glass sticks, etched with words relating to the hall, as an indoor or outdoor sculpture.

Norma went to school in Seaton Delaval and did an exam project on the hall.

She said: “It will be devastating if we miss out on the chance to acquire the hall.”

Fellow glass artist Rena Halford, who lives in Winlaton but is originally from Whitley Bay, will also create a glass piece featuring the hall.

Page 2: Biographies of artists contributing works to the appeal >>