Cats Protection Gosport to host fundraiser art exhibition

Featuring more than 50 paintings of domestic cats by 23 artists, the event is being held in Gosport to raise funds for the Gosport branch of Cats Protection.

The exhibition will take place at YourSpace on High Street.

Lindsay Cracknell, a Cats Protection volunteer who curated the exhibition, said: “I wanted to find a way of involving our wonderful local art community in supporting the charity.

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Cats Protection is set to host a feline-inspired art exhibition in Gosport. (Image: Cats Protection)

“Cats are beautiful creatures who have inspired artists throughout history, so this exhibition was the ideal way to do that.”

Titled Purrspectives: Art for Cats, the exhibition will be open on Saturday, February 21 from 10am to 3pm, and from Tuesday, February 24 to Friday, February 27 between 9am and 5pm.

A special opening event will take place on Friday, February 20 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, attended by some of the artists, Cats Protection volunteers, and the public.

Entry is free, with visitors encouraged to make a donation to Cats Protection Gosport.

The paintings will be available for sale throughout the exhibition and at the opening event, with some artists donating all proceeds and others contributing a 10 per cent commission to the charity.

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Sun Lounging by Lindsay Cracknell (Image: Lindsay Cracknell)

Ms Cracknell, who also designed the exhibition’s poster, will exhibit her work alongside fellow artist volunteers Barbara Davis and Ian Scott-Reid.

A children’s art competition will run throughout the week, featuring entries from Year 2 pupils at Alverstoke Infant School and cat masks from the Alverstoke Parish Toddler Groups.

Kate Stapleford, branch coordinator for Cats Protection Gosport, said: “I am extremely grateful to Lindsay for creating this brilliant exhibition which will appeal to cat fans and art-lovers alike.

“We are very lucky to have talented artists within our group of volunteers as well as so many willing to take part and help us raise much-needed funds.

“Although there will be opportunities to donate at the exhibition, above all we would love you to come and enjoy the art.”

Each year, the Gosport branch rehomes around 80 cats and helps improve the lives of many more through its neutering outreach programme as well as its cat focused information and advice.