Today my painting of police dog Stark is making a special appearance in the window at Dove Gallery as part of the Lockdown Countdown art exhibition.
He is an incredible dog. He was attacked with a machete just over a week ago as he fought to detain a suspect.
His bravery, determination and utter awesomeness in the face of such danger inspired me to paint him as a heartfelt thank-you to him and his partner PC Paul Hopley.
Thankfully, Stark will make a full recovery from his multiple injuries, but we want to honour him and the courage he showed by raising as much money as we can for the Retired West Midlands Police Dog Benevolent Fund.
I am helping PC Hopley launch a fundraiser next month to win a framed print of PD Stark, donated by Tamsin Stuart Art and The Cotswold Framing Company.
After that, a limited number of prints will become available to buy, with every penny going to charity.
For £100 you will get a 16” x 12” signed and mounted print of PD Stark, a certificate of authenticity telling you what number print it is, and a paw print thank-you and photo from the hero dog himself, sent to you via free postage and packaging.
Huge thanks to The Darkroom UK Ltd, The Garden Landscape Consultancy and Bishops Cleeve Care Home for their very kind support in helping to make this happen.
Police dogs often live with the effects of injuries sustained in the line of duty long after their service has ended. Retired WMP Dogs, run entirely by volunteers, aims to ensure they can enjoy the retirement they deserve with the highest level of medical care and treatment.
More details about how you could win framed print Number 1 will be released at the launch, but if you would like to register your interest to buy a mounted print, you can do that now by emailing tamsinstuartart@gmail.com The first names to be picked out at random once they go on sale will be given priority to buy one of the next batch of 10 of this limited edition.
In addition, 10 per cent of any sales I make today as part of the Lockdown Countdown exhibition will be going to Retired WMP Dogs and 10 per cent to Sue Ryder’s Leckhampton Court Hospice.
Click this link to read Stark's story:
Thank goodness for #FinnsLaw, passed last year, which made it an offence to attack a police dog in the line of duty. And what happened to Stark highlights the urgency for #FinnsLawPart2 which would see sentencing for such attacks increased from six months to five years.
Finn was nearly killed protecting his handler Dave Wardell from a teenager with a knife. Thank you Dave for giving us the idea for this fundraiser and thank you Stark and PC Hopley for everything you do every day to keep us safe.
