Local artist designs calendar to help raise money for children’s emergency department
Philip Meadows has teamed up with Our Hospitals Charity, the fundraising arm of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to produce and sell a 2022 calendar which features his The Boro Paints artwork.
Philip is originally from Eston and studied at Cleveland Art College and Sunderland University.
He said: “I do like to volunteer, as an artist you do have a following and can use this to do good works. With that in mind, I got in touch with charity to see how I could get involved and the idea of the calendar came out from there.”
I have painted all my adult life but in the last five years or so I paint from my memories. My work has increasingly focused on the Teesside of my childhood. The time frame I suppose is 1960s to late 70s. My father worked at Dorman Long, dying when I was six. My elder brother took me to the match from about the age of eight. I think of Ayresome Park in the heart of Middlesbrough. If the Boro were doing well people seemed to walk taller. I loved a night match best, the dark streets and the brilliant lighting when you got inside. it was like black and white TV outside and colour when you got in. I loved the hum and crackle of the floodlights.
Head of the Charity, Ben Murphy said: “We are delighted Phil has chosen our charity to support. Every penny raised from this calendar will go towards the new children and young people’s emergency department at James Cook.”
Work has already started on the purpose-built facility which will be situated next to the hospital’s main emergency department with its own separate entrance.
The new facility, which is only the second of its kind in the north east, expects to open by July 2021 and will provide emergency care to more than 25,000 patients a year covering all age ranges from neonates up to 18 years.
Philip really captures the spirit of the area – and is a must for all Boro fans and those who like a bit of nostalgia. And with Father’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect gift!
Calendars are priced £15 and are available to buy from The Art House on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough or from the Charity Hub at James Cook.
The role of Our Hospitals Charity is to enhance services, fund initiatives and improve patient care over and above what the NHS provides. The Charity supports the NHS in Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Hambleton & Richmondshire.
Philip’s work can be viewed on his website: www.philipmeadows.art
