Essex art exhibition raises cash for Little Haven Children’s Hospice

TWO friends will be extending the High Roding Arts Festival once again next year after massive success with their recent exhibition.

Sarah Stevenson and Sarah Love held the art exhibition in memory of Mrs Love’s stepson, Will, who died two years ago.

The pair had extended the show from a solitary weekend in 2009 to nine days this time around and it proved massively worthwhile: over �1400 was raised in the first three hours of opening - all of which went to Little Haven Children’s Hospice - while it eventually ended with a staggering �8000 turnover.

Their choice of venue, High Trees Barn in High Roding, was packed to its 400-year-old rafters with over 200 works of art from 45 artists, both local and international.

“It was lovely to see the barn, which was built in 1610, full of people and paintings. he barns are 400 years old this year and it was beautiful to see them being used in that way,” said Mrs Stevenson.

“It was fantastic to host such a successful event for the hospice and we will definitely be running it again next year.”