Dewsbury Textile Artist, 79, Auctions Her Life’s Work On 17th May 2014 To Raise £100,000 For Cancer Uk Research Unit At St James’ Hospital

ArtsLifestyle

Shirley Ross, 79, is a professional artist who lives in Dewsbury with her husband Ivor, also an artist. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, Shirley has since founded Art For Life – an art initiative to raise funds for cancer research.

Shirley had a single mastectomy in January 2011, followed by six weeks of radiotherapy, and was discharged in May 2011.

Shirley told the Yorkshire Reporter; “As soon as I felt strong again, I wanted to do something to say thank you for the wonderful care I’d received. Right from the start I’d been struck by the honesty and sympathy of all the people involved, and it meant so much that I could contact a specialist nurse at any time for help, support and answers to my questions. Nothing seemed too much trouble and I can’t praise the NHS highly enough.

I’ve supported cancer charities most of my life and the idea of Art For Life was forming even before I got ill.

I’ve been a professional artist for nearly 60 years, creating large, textile wall hangings for corporate and private buyers, all woven on a traditional hand loom. Many of these are now in hospitals and healthcare centres.

I’m always creating work, whether I have a commission or not, and when I reached 70 I began to wonder what would happen to these after my death. I didn’t want my family to be burdened with the responsibility – I want my work to be out in the world giving pleasure, provoking thought and hopefully being of some use to society.

Getting ill focused my mind

I know many other artists, especially of my generation, who have the same worries, so I began to wonder if we could do something together. Getting ill focused my mind, and I promised myself that as soon as I could, I would organise a big event – an exhibition followed by a gala auction. All the proceeds would go to cancer research, and there would be a website so that people from far and wide could see the exhibition and bid for items online.

When I began talking to people about my idea, everyone wanted to help. The North Light Gallery in Huddersfield offered space and help putting on the exhibition. Cancer Research UK offered help with publicity and many professional artists from all over the UK have donated works for sale. The generosity of artists, friends and sponsors has been quite overwhelming.

It’s been hugely hard work, but doing all of this has helped me to recover from the trauma of cancer by giving me a positive reason to become strong and healthy again.

“I feel so lucky to have received all the care and support from the NHS for free” says Shirley, “this is a chance for me, and lots of other people like me, to give something back.”

Art inspired by Yorkshire

Shirley’s life’s work plus artwork donated by 38 professional artists from throughout Yorkshire, will be on display and available to bid for at the auction. Most of the work is inspired by Yorkshire’s beautiful landscapes – natural and manmade – translated into paintings, drawings, print and textile work, sculpture and mixed media.

Shirley is hoping to attract many people to bid for the 250+ pieces of original artwork at the auction, where Ilkley auctioneer Andrew Hartley will be bringing his enthusiastic style to govern the proceedings and help the project to reach its £100,000 target.

The full collection of art to be auctioned will be displayed on the website www.artforlifeuk.com for those who can’t attend on the auction day, or want to get their bid in early.

“What is so exciting about Art For Life is that is has the potential to grow – I hope it will be an annual event, bigger every year, with more artists joining in and more money being raised.”

A silent auction will also take place on the day, where people can make their bids, large or small, for original mounted sketches, framed paintings and small, numbered print runs.

Public Viewing

At the North Light Gallery, Brooke’s Mill, Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield, HD4 7NR:
Sunday 11th May: 12 noon – 4pm
Monday 12th May: 10am – 4pm
Tuesday 13th May: 10am – 4pm
Wednesday 14th May: 10am – 8:30pm
Thursday 15th May: 10am – 8:30pm
Friday 16th May: 10am – 8:30pm
Saturday 17th May: 10am onwards –
Followed by the auction at 2pm

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