Artist paints 30 pictures in 30 days to raise money for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice

Jennifer Elson is nearing the end of her epic challenge dubbed Living La Vida Lockdown.

Art-lovers are bidding on each of the paintings with all profits going to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice to support families through some of the toughest times.

Alongside the painting challenge, which runs until December 23, Jennifer has set up a JustGiving page for donations. She will run a raffle for all the contributors in which the first prize will be an original piece of art and five runners-up will receive limited edition prints.

Jennifer, 32, of Laughton on Le Mothen, showed a talent for art from an early age, picking up national accolades during her formative years.

But it wasn’t until six month ago, after being made redundant from her job as a business development manager when the pandemic hit, that Jennifer took the plunge.

She said: “I’ve never been quite brave enough to do it before, so this seemed like the perfect time to start something new and put all the skills I’ve gained over the years to good use.

“I think I started doing it for my own sanity, but then people starting buying my work and it went from there.

“After concentrating all my efforts on my career as an artist, I felt it was time to start doing something to help others.

“I chose to support Bluebell Wood as I think it’s such an amazing organisation full of remarkable people who dedicate themselves to helping others.”

Jennifer said that having to create a new painting every 24 hours is a fanastic motivator. “I haven’t got a backlog of 30 paintings, so it isn’t a case of me just going into the studio, picking up a painting and uploading it,” she said.

The artwork she has created includes a depiction of the road through the Scottish Highlands, sunset over crystal waters and hay bales not far from her home.

Jennifer will be lending her talents to Bluebell Wood once again next year, when she will design one of the hospice’s Christmas cards.

Mel Rose, regional fundraiser for Bluebell Wood, said: “Jennifer’s work is absolutely stunning and we’re in no doubt that she’s destined for big things."