Norfolk artist raises £2,500 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices with special paintings

Gill Starkie has been painting every day of 2018, commemorating festive occasions, friendship and loss with her pictures.

The 59-year-old from Forncett St Mary said: “Very firmly lodged in my mind is the occasion when I sat for hours with a lady recording details of her children’s lives.

“She knew she didn’t have much longer to live and she wanted a watercolour painting, depicting what she remembered of their growing up and the little facets of their personalities, plus a thank you message to each. It was very moving.”

Amongst the pictures she painted was one to commemorate a girl killed in the Manchester Arena bombing and one for a boy who wanted to commit suicide.

The mother-of-two invites people to choose an image and a date they want to commemorate, which she then paints for a minimum donation of £20 to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (Each).

Gill, who had been painting for almost 10 years, started this project on January 1, after a visitor who had lost her daughter inspired her.

“After that encounter, I researched Each and I was moved by the way it creates memories for children and families,” recalled the trained psychotherapist.

“I feel it’s a privilege to be a little bit involved, to raise awareness and a bit of money to help in a small way.”

Gill buys the materials she needs herself and has so far raised £2,500 for Each.

At the end of the year, Gill hopes the collection of images will be bound into a book of thoughts, memories and words, lives captured day by day, page by page.

With three more months to go, she still welcomes bookings and donations.

For full details go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gillstarkie365paintings.