A HOSPICE care provider in the Cotswolds is holding a charity art auction on eBay to raise funds for an art-focused community health programme.

More than 90 celebrities and artists have donated work to Longfield hospice’s mystery Big Heart auction, to help raise funds for their Art for Health programme, which provides people with an outlet to improve their sense of wellbeing through art projects.

Those interested can bid on the anonymous paintings until Friday, November 27.

Designer and TV personality Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who is heading up The Big Heart Auction, and who has donated an original piece of work, said: “Longfield understands the power of art and empowers people to use it as a form of expression and therapy.

“Art is such a powerful medium for people to express those feelings which they may not be able to do with words.

“What a perfect campaign, raising money which will support art for health and help people with life-limiting illnesses to enjoy art and the joy of creating.”

Mr Llewelyn-Bowen is joined by author Jilly Cooper, TV doctor Dawn Harper, Rock the Cotswold founder Oli Christie and Keren Woodward from Bananarama, who have all donated artwork.

While professional artists include Sam Herman, illustrators Diane Young and Tom Percival, food artist Prudence Staite, and Metro newspaper’s illustrator Anthony Smith have also donated work along with local artists Amanda Moriarty, Keith Browning, Jilly Cobbe, Rachel Markwick, Hannah Mathison and Diane Young.

Bidders won’t know the identity of the artists until after their purchase is successful.

Longfield works to provide free support and care to more than 600 people in Gloucestershire every year.

The ebay link can be found on Longfield’s website at longfield.org.uk