Artists support on-line charity advent calendar

The works of some of Chiswick's best-known artists are being revealed day by day in an on-line Advent Calendar, commissioned by St Michael & All Angels church in Bedford Park - and sponsored by chiswickw4.com.

The original pictures - which can be seen in the church - will be sold by silent auction and the artists are generously donating a third of their proceeds to the Appeal.

The artists include Alfred Daniels, who was shown on TV painting Charlie Dimmock in BBC One's "Star Portraits with Rolf Harris"; Jason Bowyer, one of the experts in Channel Four's "Watercolour Challenge"; and Francis Bowyer and Liz Butler, whose works were featured recently in “The Artist and Radio 4” exhibition at the Bankside Gallery.

The pictures can be found at www.stmichaelschristmas.org where visitors will see 24 revolving stars. Each reveals a number as the cursor is passed over it and, on the right day, a click on the mouse opens the picture. Every day from December 1st to the 24th, a new door is opened.

The works are also being displayed, behind numbered doors, on a 5-foot-high Advent Calendar in the church, designed and created by local artists Jim Cox and Glynis Porter. All are welcome to view the Calendar in the church and to bid in the auction. It will close on Friday January 6th 2006 – Twelfth Night – with a party in the church.

Four charities with local links will benefit from this year's Appeal: the LAMB health project in Bangladesh; the Evangelical school in Ramallah, Palestine; the Micro Loan Foundation, a Chiswick charity which helps people in Malawi; and Wells for India. Links to their websites can be found on the Advent Calendar.

There are six sponsors of the Advent Calendar: Andreas Georghiou & Co, Andrew Nunn & Associates , Biblioweb Design, ChiswickW4.com, FBL Property Management and Fletcher Estates .

"We're very grateful to the artists and the local firms who've helped us create this year's Advent Calendar in aid of our Christmas appeal" said Father Kevin Morris, vicar of St Michael's. "It's a wonderful way to celebrate the season and help those in need."

The Appeal will also receive the collections from the four main Christmas services at St Michael’s - Nine Lessons and Carols at 6.30pm on Sunday December 18th, the Children’s Crib Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass and the family service at 10 am on Christmas Day. There will also be carol singing, at Turnham Green tube station on the evening of Wednesday December 14th.

24 Nov 2005