Artists from Henley, Twyford, Wargrave, Waltham St Lawrence, Shiplake and Mill End taking part in the Henley Arts Trail are raising funds for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust with an art auction.
They have donated more than £1,000 worth of original artwork to the Henley Arts Trail Auction. Bidding for the Henley Arts Trail Auction started at the auction’s launch at the Henley May Fair at Mill Meadows on May 4.
The Henley Arts Trail Auction is being run as an ongoing silent auction throughout May until the end of the Henley Arts Trail weekend (May 23-25).
The artworks are now on display at Barn Acre Gallery near Wargrave (www.barnacregallery.co.uk) and online at www.henleyartstrail.com. The general public are invited to place their bids by filling in one of the bidding cards available from Barn Acre Gallery.
Alternatively, bids can be made online at www.henleyartstrail.com. At the end of May all offers will be reviewed and the highest bidders will get to take home some of the region’s finest works of art. The donated items of painting, glass, jewellery, ceramics, textiles and photography reflect the diversity and high quality of arts and crafts to be viewed on the Henley Arts Trail.
Donated items also include a commission by Twyford-based painter Terri Jones, and tuition in jewellery making by Shiplake-based Henley Arts Trail Auction organiser and jewellery designer Wendy Penrose. “We have never been involved with anything like this before but wanted to find a way to help the Trust raise funds for their vital life-saving work,” said Penrose.
“We chose the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust as our charity since their work could make the difference between life and death for anyone in this area.” The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance is a vital service bringing rapid medical attention.
Their unique ability to bring treatment to patients within the vital first hour from time of accident makes all the difference to survival rates.
Rachael Hunter from the Air Ambulance Trust said: “To date we have responded to over 10,600 medical emergency missions in the Thames Valley and Chiltern area.
“However, the Trust receives no funding from Central Government or the National Lottery and we rely on charity to raise the £2 million required to cover the annual running costs.
“That is why fund raising activities like the Henley Arts Trail are so vitally important to us.”
