Coasters painted by art-loving patients at East Cheshire Hospice are being sold to raise funds for the charity.
The beautiful designs are created with the help of volunteer Sheila King who teaches them basic water colour skills.
Sheila, from Macclesfield, was a novice herself until she fell in love with painting while on holiday in 2012.
Since discovering she had a talent as an artist, she has taught hundreds of patients at the Sunflower Living Well Centre at the Hospice, plus staff and fellow volunteers.
Sheila King with coasters made by patients.
The coasters idea came after Sheila learned that the Arts Society was looking to sponsor a charitable project.
A bid submitted with the help of Amanda Charlesworth from the Macclesfield branch was successful and the coaster project Patients Supporting Patients was born.
Sheila’s two sessions on Mondays cover different subjects including landscapes and animals and are proving hugely popular.
She said: “Even complete beginners can produce something they’re proud of. Lessons are good fun with lots of laughter and it’s a great distraction for the patients.
“This is not art therapy, however. It is learning to paint. Paintings are created in 90 minutes with some made into coasters.
Therapy dog Jack admires patient paintings.
“The grant covers painting materials and printing costs with all money raised from the sale of the coasters donated to the Hospice to support patient care.”
A separate Arts Society sponsorship means patients use artist quality watercolour paper and paints to produce even better results.
Materials provided also includes mounts and cellophane covers.
Sheila said: “Many patients frame their paintings and display them on walls, or they gift them to family and friends.”
Coasters are priced at £4 each, or £15 for four, and will be on sale at the Hospice reception and some of the charity’s events.
Sheila is chair of Macclesfield Art Group and will be exhibiting and selling her work at its exhibition at the Library from October 17-24.
The finished product … coasters created by artistic patients.
Coasters made by her pupils will, of course, also be on sale.
She said: “Patients think the coasters are a brilliant idea and they’re a lovely memento.”
Sheila is also a volunteer with dementia patients at the Hospice and Macclesfield and District General Hospital.
She retired from AstraZeneca in 2015 after 39 years, her last role as a patient safety manager.
* For more information about Macclesfield Arts Society visit www.theartssocietymacclesfield.org.uk/