Posted on 19th Nov 2009 @ 7:30 PM

 
   

Dogs Trust teams up with THE Stockbridge Gallery

to raise vital pounds for hounds

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has teamed up with the Stockbridge ‘Dog Gallery’ in Hampshire to host a unique winter art exhibition with the star attraction being the unveiling of Paula Vize’s ‘Faith, Hope and Trust’ painting (pictured).

The painting, which includes some canine residents from nearby Dogs Trust Salisbury, will be on display and for sale to the highest bidder. An additional 100 limited edition prints of the painting will also be on sale for £100 each with all proceeds going to Dogs Trust.

These limited Christmas edition prints have been specially designed with Dogs Trust in mind to help raise vital funds for the upkeep of stray and abandoned dogs across UK and Ireland. Two prints are currently on display at the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres in Salisbury and nearby Newbury.

The ‘Not Just For Christmas’ art exhibition runs from 15 November to 24 December and will feature an eclectic mix of canine artwork from contemporary artists including Paula Vize, Robert Bradford and Mary Ann Rogers as well as more traditional artists such as Thomas Blinks.

Clarissa Baldwin OBE, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, explains: “We are thrilled that the Stockbridge Gallery has chosen to donate some of its proceeds to Dogs Trust. We hope that this unique exhibition will bring home the message that dogs are an important source of inspiration as well as companionship.

Christmas is always a difficult time for us and despite reinforcing the slogan ‘A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas’ people still regrettably go out and buy dogs as Christmas gifts. We maintain that dogs are not throwaway commodities but valued members of the family.”

 

Victoria Armstrong, owner of the Stockbridge Gallery, says, “We are delighted that Paula has painted and generously donated this unique portrait.  Exceptionally, Paula has agreed to the production of a limited edition of 100 signed prints which we anticipate will become collectors’ items.”

 

The title of the exhibition is taken from the famous strap-line  'A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas' the brainchild of Clarissa Baldwin OBE Chief Executive of Dogs Trust some thirty years ago.

 

Officially opened by Clarissa in April 2009, the gallery will also be hosting an eclectic mix of animal artwork and decorative art throughout 2010.

 

For further information about the ‘Not Just For Christmas’ art exhibition visit www.dogstrust.org.uk or call the Stockbridge Gallery on (01264) 810 142

For further press information contact:

Caroline Hook – Dogs Trust (Press Office)

Tel: 020 7833 7676

Email: caroline.hook@dogstrust.org.uk

or

Victoria Armstrong – Stockbridge Gallery

Tel:  (01264) 810 142

Email: enquiries@dogsinart.com