Stars shine for Willow
Willow once again received overwhelming support from over 350 singers, artists, TV personalities, sporting hero’s, children’s illustrators, architects and cartoonists for its fifth biennial Stars on Canvas 2016 raising more than £310,000 in total for Special Days since launching in 2008.
World renowned celebrities Kylie Minogue, Shaun Mendes and Gary Barlow; sporting legends, John Terry and Francois Pienaar; acclaimed artists JJ Adams and Paul Oz; and children’s illustrator, Peter Firmin (creator of Bagpuss), were amongst the contributors who collaborated with artist Julianne Gilbert creating artwork that was auctioned on eBay with all bids starting from 99p. The online auction ran for ten days raising an amazing £86,000 for Willow.
Along with the auction, the full Stars on Canvas collection was publicly exhibited for five days at The Quadrant Arcade, Regent Street, which was generously donated by The Crown Estates.
This year also saw the launch of the Stars on Canvas framing competition; self proclaimed paint pirate Tom Lewis produced a stunning piece of original art in aid of Willow. Thirteen framers and galleries from across the UK were asked to frame the original piece, which then were judged by the great and the good of the art and framing world, including representatives from Wishbone Publishing, Fine Art Trade Guild and Arqadia who awarded ‘Stars on Canvas Fine ART Framer of the Year’ to Ruislip Frameworks.
All framed entries were auctioned alongside the Stars on Canvas collection, raising an additional £3,100.
Celebrities and artists helps spread the word on social media which, alongside mentions in newspapers and on television, created a buzz which led to a nail-biting final few hours on the evening of November 27, with many bids doubling in the remaining last seconds.
The top selling canvases were:
- Gary Barlow- £2,101
- Alan MacDonalnd- £1,922
- JJ Adams- £1,550
- Paul Oz- £1460
- Reece Shearsmith- £1,310
- Sir Rod Stewart- £1,220
- Katy Jade Dobson- £1,120
- Peter Firmin (Bagpuss)- £1,009
- Gordon Banks (Engalnd 1966)- £1,000
- Shaun Mendes- £996
- Nic Joly- £970
- Deborah Azzopardi- £871
- Sir David Jason- £830
- Peter Firmin- £786
- Gerald Scarfe- £775
Stars on Canvas would not have been possible without the support of Wishbone Publishing, Regent Street Association and Willow’s partnership with Brighton-based artist, Julianne Gilburt’s. Thank you to all.
View photographs from Regent Street exhibition’s private view here
Artworks still available to view at starsoncanvas.org.uk
If you would like to sponsor or contribute with gifts in kind to Stars on Canvas 2018 please email [email protected]