Celebrities' paintings support school art appeal

Dame Joanna Lumley and Bill Bailey are among the celebrity artists whose paintings will feature in support of a school arts festival.

St Barnabas C of E Primary School in Oxford is hosting an exhibition bringing together bird-inspired artworks by children, local artists and well-known public figures.

Headteacher Beccy Harris said the theme "reflects our school vision to help children soar on wings like eagles".

The exhibition will raise funds for the school and community projects. Artworks will be available both to purchase in person and via an online auction.

The school's chair of governors Charlie Arbuthnott posted painting sets and miniature canvases to several celebrities, inviting them to share their creations.

"It all went very quiet for the first couple of weeks and then, excitedly, the first canvas arrived and we couldn't quite believe it," Harris said, adding the first one they opened was from chef and TV star Dame Prue Leith.

She said the celebrities gave them permission to sell as part of an auction online "for anybody who would like to have one of these wonderful little keepsakes".

Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park has sent a work he titled Red-Legged Partridge Dancing.

Actor and campaigner Lumley is taking part with Dove and comedian Bailey is the artist behind Swallows.

Harris said the pupils were "so excited" by the celebrity contributions.

The exhibition, which runs on 16-17 and 23–25 May, is part of Oxford Art Weeks.

Funds raised will support projects including the improving the school's deteriorating adventure playground and restoring heavily used community green space.

Arbuthnott said: "We hope to show everyone what a wonderful school we have tucked away in Jericho - and to gain lots of support for our fundraising activities, which are sorely needed to enable us to give local children the best start in life."

Harris added the exhibition was "about much more than art".

"The theme 'inspired by birds' reflects our school vision to help children soar on wings like eagles, and we hope visitors will leave feeling inspired too."

To accompany the exhibition, historian Mark Davies will give two talks about how Jericho and Oxford inspired famous artists including Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll and the 19th Century Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood art movement.