A Hampshire artist has raised thousands of pounds for cancer charity PLANETS  through a painting he created while undergoing treatment.

Retired architect Kenn Scaddan was inspired by the work of Dutch artist Vermeer to produce The Girl with the Pearl Earring.

The oil painting features a female wearing a face covering, something which resonated strongly with Kenn when he worked on the piece while receiving treatment for bowel cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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He subsequently donated the piece to PLANETS, which supports the fantastic work at at University Hospital Southampton, for auction. It was also made into a greeting card and put on display at the Canvas Gallery in Winchester.

Earlier this month, PLANETS hosted an open evening at the gallery with guest the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Angela Clear, where everyone who had purchased a pack of greeting cards was placed in a raffle to win Kenn's original painting.

In total, Kenn's donation raised just under £3,000 for PLANETS, which helps patients with pancreatic, liver, colorectal, abdominal and neuroendocrine cancer by funding patient support groups, innovative treatments and research.

The charity primarily serves the needs of the patients across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands and West Sussex, but is increasingly involved in national and international initiatives. Since 2011, PLANETS has raised nearly £2 million. 

Daily Echo:

Kenn, who hails from Portsmouth, now paints for good causes in his art studio at home.

He has co-founded not-for-profit organisation Creative Giving alongside his daughter Chloe Pyatt and photographer Jill Stevenson with the purpose of using their creativity to assist charities in raising funds for good causes, which is where the collaboration with PLANETS developed.

Layla Stephen, chief executive and co-founder of PLANETS, said: "Kenn's The Girl with the Pearl Earring painting showing a face mask so prominently is something familiar to all of us, but in particular for cancer patients for whom face masks remain very much part of our lives.

"It was important to Kenn that this image was used for a charity raising vital funds to support cancer patients like himself and we are delighted he chose PLANETS to benefit from this beautiful piece of artwork."