AN amateur artist has offered to paint portraits of loved ones who have died in exchange for a donation to the hospice.

Allan Poyner and his wife Sue have volunteered at the hospice for the last nine years since the death of their niece Natalie Weisters, 33.

Earlier this year, Sue was diagnosed with bowel cancer and sadly passed away in September.

To help him get through his grief, Allan picked up his brushes and completed an oil painting of his wife of 46-years.

Allan, 72, from Blackburn, has now offered to paint portraits of other people’s loved ones in exchange for a donation to the hospice.

He said: “We formed the 'Fun-raisers' group and have raised thousands for the hospice over the years.

“When Sue was diagnosed we were devastated and the cancer was aggressive.

"She spent less than a week at the hospice before she died. They were brilliant with her, just as they were with Natalie.

“It was therapeutic for me doing the portrait. It captures her personality on canvas. It feels like part of her is still with me. This is my way of saying thank you to the hospice.

"If people have lost of a loved one and want a portrait doing, if they give me a photograph I will try and do a good job."

Each portrait is painted on a canvas measuring 10in by 14in and takes over 20 hours to complete.

Allan is currently working on his first commissioned piece after a family member saw his portrait of Sue.

The talented man took up painting after he retired seven years ago. The formed international sales and marketing manager still attends art classes in Sawley.

Sharon Crymble, fundraising manager at the Park Lee Road hospice, said: “We are really touched that Allan wants to do something like this for others, and for the hospice.

"Allan is a wonderful volunteer who has already raised so much money for us.

"As you can see, he did such a good job capturing Sue’s smile.

"I’m sure there will be lots of people who want an oil painting of their loved ones that they can treasure forever.”

For more information, contact East Lancashire Hospice on 01254 287 000.