A WINCHESTER art teacher is putting together an exhibition of paintings of High Street shops, created by her students, to raise money for charity in memory of her son.
Daphne Vaughan, of Edgar Road, has been teaching art for 40 to 50 years and now runs weekly classes for local pupils at her home studio.
The group of 20 children, aged seven to 14, have been busy painting, drawing and using chalk to recreate the shops in Winchester High Street.
Around 34 pieces of art by the students, will be on show at Winchester City Museum, in The Square, from September 9 to 17 as part of Winchester Heritage Open Days.
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Mrs Vaughan, 73, said: “It’s about children and their artwork and our city. I want them to appreciate it like I do.
“I’m immensely proud of the kids and my city. I hope this exhibition leaves a sort of legacy. The children are delighted with the work they have done and to have it on display.
“They will be incredibly excited to see it all in a gallery and in High Street windows.”
After her son, Tom Vaughan, drowned in Los Angeles, at just 34, Mrs Vaughan has been determined to carry on his legacy and raise funds through what she knows best – art.
A few days before he died, Tom said to his mum that his job wasn’t for him and he instead wanted to create a company called Know Thyself to help mankind.
Mrs Vaughan set up Know Thyself Charitable Trust a year later in 2020 to help people overcome stress and anxiety in the workplace.
Proceeds from the exhibition will go towards the charity. The art teacher has also been visiting the High Street businesses to see if they’d be willing to buy a copy of their shop painting.
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Mrs Vaughan said: “My world fell apart when Tom died. I knew this was what I had to do. What was stressing Tom the most was mental health problems, it was too much for him.
“I’m going to do this for Tom. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do but when your child asks you to do something, you do it.
“It’s been enormously time-consuming but this exhibition has been enormously helpful to channel my grief.”
There will be free entry to Winchester City Museum, including the young artists’ exhibition, on Saturday, September 9. Other days, normal admission prices will apply.
A free trail connecting the buildings and the artwork along the High Street will be running from Friday, September 8 to Sunday, September 17.
Click through the gallery at the top of the page to see more images of the artwork.
For more information on Know Thyself Charitable Trust go to knowthyselfcharity.com/.
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