WOKING.- Grayson Perry is one of a string of top artists and celebrities whose talents have helped raise tens of thousands of pounds for Transplant Links Community, a charity which gives patients who have been dealt a difficult hand the chance to change their life for the better through kidney transplantation.

Ewbank’s Auctions in Surrey hosted the auction on December 11, selling original artwork by Perry, leading contemporary artists David Mach and Frank Bowling – both of whose work is in national collections, including The Tate – David Bowie’s close friend George Underwood, David Shrigley, whose artwork filled the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square and other notable figures.

As well as the £10,700 raised by Perry’s two images of the Queen of Diamonds, bidding raised £3,600 for Frank Bowling Ace of Spades design, £3,300 for George Underwood’s King of Clubs and £2,300 for Shrigley’s Ace of Clubs. The sale raised £32,000 in all.

All the designs were given a broad estimate starting at just £100 and the auctioneers waived all charges to ensure that all of the money raised went to where it is most needed.

TLC patron Baroness Floella Benjamin – just named Bazaar’s Woman of the Year and made a Dame in the honours list – commissioned the works personally from each artist and has also produced artwork herself for a card.

The designs, donated by an exclusive list of artists and public figures, were all themed as playing cards in the TLC Deck of Cards fundraising campaign, creating a unique Deck of 52 playing cards and two jokers.

The money raised will help us to fund our next life-saving mission to Africa or the Caribbean, where our marvellous team of volunteer doctors and surgeons can teach their skills in kidney transplantation to local medical teams, and save lives at the same time. This is a truly unique and special opportunity for art to literally save lives.

“Overheads are kept low with only two paid members of staff, so the money raised goes directly towards life-saving work in Ghana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Nepal, Papua New Guinea,” said Aimee Jewitt-Harris, who runs the charity with her mother Jennie, who founded it – both are also contributing artists.

The funds will be used to:

• train doctors, surgeons and nurses in developing countries to be able to perform life-saving kidney transplant operations




• give parents, wives, husbands, friends, and other family members the chance to save the life of their loved one by donating a kidney

• help children with kidney failure to go back to school with a functioning kidney

• help adults with kidney failure to go to work to provide for their families with a functioning kidney

TV star Floella Benjamin said, “"TLC works tirelessly to save lives of children and adults who suffer with kidney failure in developing countries which do not have the knowhow to undertake transplant operations.

“As a patron of this incredible charity I have seen the work they do first hand and I know the huge difference it makes. I have called upon friends and artists to create a unique collection of artworks based on a deck of cards, where all of the original artworks will be sold in a one-off online auction to raise money for this vital cause.

“The artists have come up trumps – the works are stunning and I'm so grateful to them all.”

Jennie Jewitt-Harris, CEO of TLC said, “We’ve been blown away by the generosity of our 54 contributing artists, especially during this difficult time. The range of ideas that the artists have come up with is extraordinary; it’s a fantastic mix of wonderful and unique original artworks. The auction is a rare opportunity to bid for some truly remarkable artworks, the proceeds of which will go directly towards the training of healthcare professionals in developing countries. Thank you to every single one of the 54 artists and to Andrew and Chris at Ewbank’s Auctions for their invaluable support.”

Chris Ewbank, Founder of Ewbank’s, explained why the event is so unusual: “Ewbank’s are delighted to be supporting TLC in staging such an unusual unreserved auction. It’s been a great opportunity for everyone to access and purchase works by some of the UK's top artists such as Grayson Perry and George Underwood at affordable prices.”

Wayne (recipient), Jamaica: “This opportunity has really opened up hope within persons. You guys are touching lives and it is great.”

Debbie (Wayne’s donor), Jamaica: “We share space, we share our life and it has really made a difference to our lives together. It’s really a transformation.”

Shaneke (recipient), Jamaica: “A transplant offers a person a better quality of life and that is what I am experiencing now. I am able to do things that I never imagined I would be able to do again.”