Artist launches fundraising campaign to support Northants Rights and Equality council

A talented artist in Northampton is raising money for the Northants Rights and Equality Council by auctioning off a special piece of artwork.

Tommy Thurtin, 34, from Abington, is a trained artist taught to specialise in portraiture. He is currently working on a hand-drawn A3 graphite portrait of poet/writer Benjamin Zephanhiah in recognition of Windrush Day.

"As it's 72 years since the boat docked, 72 per cent of the final sale price will go to local advocacy charity, the Northamptonshire Rights and Equlity Council, who do amazing work in the county for equal rights.

"Whilst I would love to donate 100 percent, I do need to cover my own time/costs as this is my sole income at the moment," Tommy told the Chronicle & Echo.

The finished work will be revealed at 9pm on Sunday June 21, with the auction taking place from 8am on the Monday in a pinned post at the top of his Twitter feed, @Tommy13Art.

Tommy's portrait is a work in progress but the picture here shows an example of his previous work, showing the rapper Eminem:

"The piece will be signed original, one of a kind with no prints made. The dream would be for it to be seen by Benjamin himself and perhaps to get some generous bids which can translate into a good-sized donation," he said.

Tommy will be launching an Etsy shop next month selling prints of celebrity portraits along with private commissions.

"I've been drawing for a little over two years, prior to which I'd done no art whatsoever, but hope to make a career through my work.

"This collaboration forms part of a larger commitment to Northants REC, to whom I have pledged 20% of my profits for the foreseeable future, as I believe in art as a force for good and a catalyst for social reform," he added.