AN ARTIST who survived an earthquake as a child has produced a painting of his experience to raise money for charity.

Gino Napoliello, who has a studio in Queen Street, Gravesend, will donate money raised from his art to the British Red Cross.

He hopes the money will be used to aid victims in Japan and New Zealand following the earthquakes earlier this year.

The father-of-two said: “The Japanese earthquake brought back memories “That’s why I was keen to do it - I understand how these people feel - they need to start their lives over again.”

Mr Napoliello spent four days creating the picture, which shows a house beneath a full moon wrecked by a quake.

He said: “When I paint, my vision comes like a flash- I grab all the drama and emotion and put it into my art.

“This is how I can interpret what happened- I never want to stop painting.”

News Shopper: Gino Napoliello The Italian artist was just ten years old when an earthquake struck his village in Irpinia in southern Italy in 1980.

Measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, nearly 3,000 people were killed and 300,000 people were left homeless.

Mr Napoliello said: “I’m lucky to be alive - it was like the end of the world.

“I remember everything was dark, except for a full moon.

“When the earthquake started, the window in my parent’s flat was blown out.

“My mother was screaming as she saw the building next to us squashed down like a plate.

“She wanted to help her friends but my father pulled her away.”

Mr Napoliello, who is a full time artist, hopes to hold an exhibition in north Kent where he will continue to raise money for earthquake victims.

He also revealed he is painting a portrait for the Queen, but Buckingham Palace has failed to return his calls.

Michael Wenban

Michael Wenban, 37, teaches English in Japan and says the country is still experiencing aftershocks following March’s earthquake.

The former Gravesend resident said: “We have aftershocks every other day.

“If people felt them in England, there would be pandemonium but here, people are used to them.”

News Shopper: Michael with his wife, Kyoko, via Skype with News Shopper Mr Wenban, who lives in Kemigawa, 50 miles south of Tokyo, says people are worried about radiation leaks from Fukushima Daiichi’s nuclear power plant.

As a result, their electricity usage has been curbed.

He added: “This is a major problem.

“The trains don’t have lights or air conditioning, which will be bad in summer.

“Sometimes temperatures can soar to 40 degrees.”