When artist Clive Byrne has paintings exhibited at Art Fair Cheshire no-one will be prouder than his wife Janice.
The East Cheshire Hospice volunteer wears many different hats to support the Hospice, close to her heart.
Janice will again be helping behind the scenes at the event at Macclesfield Town Hall from Thursday, September 26 until Thursday, October 3.
Janice and Clive Byrne with his art work.
She uploaded images and biographies of exhibiting artists to the website, one of them about Clive who turned his love of art into a career after he was made redundant as a welder.
Clive gained a Fine Art degree and used his artistic skills to help teach youngsters with special needs for 20 years.
The couple are committee members at East Cheshire Sub-Aqua Club which will again loan tables and chairs for the pop-up café.
Artwork created by youngsters using the Hospice’s childhood bereavement service will have a dedicated space at the exhibition, staged every two years in aid of the charity.
Janice helps with admin at the bereavement unit, though her involvement with the charity goes far beyond there.
She is also a befriender to patients and drives visitors to the Sunflower Living Well Centre to and from their homes.
Janice also knits teddies and hearts for families attending the inpatient unit and uses fabric from swatches to make handbags sold at the Treacle Market.
All proceeds go to the Hospice for whom she trekked to Camino de Santiago and Iceland. In 12 months she will hike through the Swiss and French Alps, admitting she is ‘not a natural walker.’
Such dedication runs in the family. Mum Lorna Searls, who died last year aged 79, was a volunteer in the charity’s lottery department.
Youngest sister Angela Black (48) died at the Hospice nine years ago. Ever since Janice and older sister Katrina have been busy helping however they can.
Janice said: “Clive is a first-time exhibitor at this Art Fair and is excited and nervous about having his work displayed. I usually end up volunteering doing something and last time registered the artists.
“The Art Fair is brilliant. It’s for a wonderful cause and admission is free.”
The event is run by volunteers and is sponsored by AstraZeneca.
It features original art and sculptures, paintings, prints, jewellery, photography, glassware, ceramics, millinery and willow weaving.
The event opens from 10.30 am until 4 pm each day. For more details visit www.theartfair.org.uk
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