Damien Hirst's art-felt donation pays for new hospice (From News Shopper)

Damien Hirst's art-felt donation pays for new hospice

3:15pm Wednesday 24th September 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

A CHARITY is celebrating after artist Damien Hirst donated more than £700,000 to pay for a new hospice caring for terminally ill children.

The controversial artist has donated the proceeds from the sale of one of his paintings to charity Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

Beautiful Love Demelza Painting with Beautiful Butterflies sold for £769,250 at an auction of Mr Hirst's art and will pay for the completion of the charity's £6.5m hospice in Wensley Close, Eltham.

The Beautiful Inside My Head Forever collection raised a total of £111,464,800 at Sotheby's auction house in New Bond Street, Mayfair, on September 15 and 16.

The charity's director of fundraising James Hanaway said: "We were overwhelmed and excited to see how much money the painting raised.

"We're very grateful to Damien. It's an amazing gift and one that will make a huge difference. Words are not enough to express our thanks."

However, Mr Hanaway said £1.5m was still needed to pay for the running of the hospice.

The multi-coloured heart-shaped painting is decorated with butterflies and Mr Hanaway claims it has special significance for the charity.

He said: "Looking at the painting it strikes a chord with what we do and there's a lot of connection with the painting for us.

"The heart deals with the care we provide, the butterflies refer to the short life of the children and the warmth of the colours is like the vibrant life experienced at Demelza."

He believes Mr Hirst is inspired by the work of the charity as this is the second time profits from the sale of one of his painting's has been donated them.

A butterfly painting entitled She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah raised £35,000 for the charity when it went under the hammer at an auction last October.

To make a donation and for more information on the Demelza Hospice Care for Children, visit demelzahouse.org