Hundreds of painted, knitted, ceramic and printed sunflowers have been pouring in to Festival Place where they will be sold to help the people of Ukraine.

The sunflower art sale will run alongside a series of children’s art workshops at the Basingstoke shopping centre on March 26.

More than 100 people have contributed to the sunflower sale organised by Rachel Davis, an artist based at THAT Gallery, which showcases the work of local artists.

Items on sale will include sunflower paintings, collages, digital art, ceramics, crochet, handmade cards, prints, lino cuts and jewellery.

READ MORE: 'We are so grateful': Donations flood in for sunflower themed shop to help fleeing refugees

Rachel said: “I was horrified by what I was seeing in Ukraine, and I wanted to do something to help. I began by selling my own artwork and donating the proceeds to UNICEF, and then I asked the THAT Gallery team if they all fancied painting a sunflower mini canvas that we could sell.

“Then I approached our friends at All Our Own Crafts in the centre, and then it just grew and grew! Now we have donations coming from national artists, local art clubs, pre-schools and the wider community.

“Everyone has been so generous with their time and resources. We can achieve more if we work together!”

Both the sunflower art sale and the children’s workshops will be held in a unit on the lower level.

Art will be on sale all day between 10am and 7pm, and workshops will run between 11am and 3pm. They are open to children aged two and over with parental supervision, with a suggested donation of £2 per child.

Workshops will include:

• Draw a sunflower on a wood slice

• Make a paper plate sunflower

• Pre-printed tablecloths to colour in

• Sunflower colouring sheets

• Make a card for Mother’s Day

There will also be sunflower growing kits for sale.

All money raised will go to help the people of Ukraine through the charities Red Cross and UNICEF.

SEE ALSO: Gallery runs sunflower-themed shop to help fleeing refugees

Festival Place events and community manager Sian Fisher said: “THAT Gallery hosts local artists selling original pieces of art, prints and sculpture, and is a source of real community and culture for Basingstoke.

“That sense of community has really been highlighted by this fantastic initiative, and it’s wonderful to see so many people joining THAT Gallery’s art sale.

“We can’t wait to see all the sunflowers blooming at Festival Place in support of the people of Ukraine.”

For the latest information on Festival Place visit festivalplace.co.uk.

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